“Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose,

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves

Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling vine

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps

Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,

That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown’d

Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.

The birds their choir apply; airs, vernal airs,

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune

The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,

Led on th’ eternal spring.”22

Far below he could dimly discern moving crowds; great buildings reared their stately heads towards a sky so blue and bewildering beneath the sun’s bright rays that the gazer was rendered speechless with amazement. Shadowy images of past scenes and happenings flitted across his brain like transient reflection of a past perfectly familiar to him.

“Do you find the prospect fair?” asked Ai at length, breaking the settled silence.

“Fairer than I can find words to express; and yet I am surprised to find that it all seems familiar to me, as if somewhere in the past I had known just such a city as this.”

Ai smiled a smile of singular sweetness and content; Reuel could have sworn that there was a degree of satisfaction in his pleasure.

“Come, we will go down into the city. You who know the wonders of modern life at its zenith, tell me what lesson you learn from the wonders of a civilization which had its zenith six thousand years before Christ’s birth.”

“Six thousand years before Christ!” murmured Reuel in blank stupidity.

“Aye; here in Telassar are preserved specimens of the highest attainments the world knew in ancient days. They tell me that in many things your modern world is yet in its infancy.”

“How!” cried Reuel, “do you then hold communion with the world outside your city?”

“Certain members of our Council are permitted to visit outside the gates. Do you not remember Ababdis?”

“Our camel-driver?”

Ai bowed. “He is the member who brought us news of your arrival, and the intention of the expedition to find our city for the sake of its treasure.”