Dreams of the past! How mournfully, How redolent of pain, And yet, how tinged with golden light, Ye throng my wearied brain! Dreams of the past! The secret fire Long smouldering on the hearth, In those sweet visions, burns once more, O'er-mastering pain and death! Oh! many moons have shed their beams, Across the boundless sea, Since last I gazed with anguish'd tears, And THOU-on whom was freely pour'd I know not where thou art. I know not if on this green earth It may be, thou hast pass'd away And I-I too-with chasten'd soul, All speak of quick decay; The strange wild lustre, and the fire So let it be-I wait the hour When death shall break my chain; A still, small voice now breaks on me, And whispers, "death is gain." Let pain-fraught memory wake no more; My onward path is bright; I hasten to that "better land" Where all is Love and Light. SEVEN-STORIED PALACE, BEJAPORE. VERY few Eastern cities present so much variety in their style of architecture as is to be found at Bejapore; a circumstance which is perhaps to be accounted for, by the fact, that foreigners from various countries frequented the court of its former princes; who were, themselves, of Turkish descent. Among these foreign nobles were Persians, Turks, and Tartars, all of whom, probably, introduced architectural novelties derived from their respective countries. The native princes also, and more especially the first sovereign of the Adil Shah dynasty, invited several eminent architects from distant lands, to superintend the decoration of Bejapore; and, according to the Eastern idiom, "made them easy under the shade of their bounty." The picturesque remains of the once splendid "Seven-Storied Palace," of which the plate which accompanies this article exhibits a view, are comprehended within the precincts of the fortified portion of the city of Bejapore; and in the character of their architecture differ greatly from the numerous other ruins to which this ancient city owes much of its interest. Somewhat of the lightness and grace which characterize even the religious Gothic structures of the Western world, distinguish this ruined Eastern palace; which, consequently, presents a striking contrast to the massive mosques by which it is surrounded. Of the date of its erection there is no authentic record; a tradition, however, which would appear to be well founded, recognizes it as having been the residence of Yusuf, the founder of the Adil Shah dynasty. The personal history of this Yusuf, the founder of a kingdom, once the most flourishing and powerful of the dominions of the Deccan, is of a highly interesting character; and is, moreover, deeply tinged by the romance which would seem to belong peculiarly to Eastern story. Yusuf being, as it is said, a younger son of the renowned emperor Bajazet, was destined, by his brother, the reigning monarch, to be put to death; this proceeding being in accordance with the ordinary policy of Eastern courts, which admits "" No brother near the throne." The mandate of the reigning sovereign having been issued, the executioners-so says the popular legend-came to demand the person of the young Yusuf, at that time a mere boy, from his mother; in order that, having strangled him according to order, they might expose his lifeless remains to the public gaze. The afflicted mother, after having sued in vain for a remission of the barbarous sentence under which her son was doomed to suffer, succeeded in obtaining a delay of four-and-twenty hours, for the purpose, as she said, of preparing her mind for the loss which she was fated to sustain. Very actively, however, did she employ the interval thus granted. She betook herself to the slave-market, in order to purchase a boy, who, by adroit management on her |