The Argosy . Walls of Alcudia. Here, too, we have a double set ot walls : Roman and moat between them is dried up and withered. Its uses have passedaway as completely as the busy hands and brains that centuries agoplanned them out and brought them to perfection. There were giantsin the land in those days, even as in days before them : the days of thePyramids, of the Walls of Babylon, the Tomb of Mausoleus, and allthe wonders of the world. There always have been giants, it seemsto me, on the earth. In our own day I suppose their strength lies inthe wonders of science and invention
The Argosy . Walls of Alcudia. Here, too, we have a double set ot walls : Roman and moat between them is dried up and withered. Its uses have passedaway as completely as the busy hands and brains that centuries agoplanned them out and brought them to perfection. There were giantsin the land in those days, even as in days before them : the days of thePyramids, of the Walls of Babylon, the Tomb of Mausoleus, and allthe wonders of the world. There always have been giants, it seemsto me, on the earth. In our own day I suppose their strength lies inthe wonders of science and invention. Wisbys walls—to conclude the comparison—look out upon acold and barren land, upon the pale waters of the Baltic. Theseof Alcudia look forth upon fertile plains ; upon distant waters runningcalmly up into the land in creeks and harbours ; upon chains of hillsundulating and tower-crowned; upon the broad Bay, the fair andflashing waters of the Mediterranean. For these are Southern skies,. Letters from Majorca, 49 where balmy zephyrs blow, and spiced gales and fruit-scented windsare prevalent. We cannot escape here the dream of the lotus-eater,even if we would. If its people are voluptuous, living the life of thesenses, we must pause before we judge them, and hesitate longbefore we condemn. A sojourn in these soft and subtle climes, this rainbow atmosphere,these gorgeous scenes, is inexpressibly delicious. We live in dreamsbeyond those of our sleep. All we possess of youth and freshnessis kindled and aroused and quickened into hfe by its influence. Ourvery being and nerves are thrilled, as a harp would vibrate at thetouch of a Saint Cecilia. Nevertheless, I would not live here glamour is thrown over the imagination. The net of soft and sweet,but dangerous emotions holds captive ones reason. The doom ofthe epicurean would become ours. Give me the colder, healthierinfluences of the North, companionship with a race that resolutelyfights the battle of life, pressin
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwoodhenr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookyear1865
