A Grecian Burial

When a soul departa, their Iamentations are terrible, but ihey sorrovv lor ihe survivors ! only ! - as fbr the dead, they count him in all things a conqueror ; so lliey place the laurel garland on bis brovv, and in his hands ihe palm of victory ! They uncover the face, that all may see what a majesty of most serene repose is stamped lhereon, and they sing a hymn of thanksgii'ing as they bear him away to his rest. I remember vvhen they buried that briglit eyed Greek maiden, snatched suddunly from earth, vvhen her young heart was light as her face was fair, they arrayed her, so rigid and motionless in the gay dress she had never worn but for sotne gieal fete or gala, as thougli this more iban any, were a day of rejoicing lo her ; and thus atlired, with her long hair spread over her slill bosom, all decked with flovvers, ihey laid herunconfined in the grave. At her feet they placed a small flask of wine and a basket of corn, in accordance with an ancient Greek superstition, which supposes for three days and nights the disembodied spirit lingers mouinfully round its tenement oi'clay, the garment of its morUility, wlierein as a pilgiim and a stranger on the earib, it lived and loved, sinned, and sufFered ! As soon as the first symptom of decay announces that the curse of corruptiou is at work, tliey believe the purer essence parta to purer realms. Before the grave was closed, vvhüst for the last time tho warm radiance of the sunset cast a glo-v like the mockery of life, over the face of the poor young girl, lier friends, as a last precaution, took measures to ascertain that slie was actnallv dead; and notin a swoon. The means ihey always take ín such instances to ascertain a fact, vvllicl) elsewhere vvould be ensured by doctor' s certifícate, is toucliing in the extreme. The person vvlioin, wliilst alive, it was knovfn ihe deceased loved best, the mollier, or it may be the young betrothed, who had lioped to place on her head the gay bridal crown, instead of the green laurel garland of death, advances and calis her by name,repeat ng afier it the world ella, (come) several times, in a tone of themost passionate entreaty ; if she is mute to lilis appeal, ifshe is dead to the voice that was dearest to her on oartb, then (bey no longer doubt that she is dead indeed ; tliey cover up the grave, lift theireyes to the heaven wliere they believe her to be, for the Greeks do not liold the doctrine of purgatory, and hoving made the cross, they depart in silance to tlieir homes.