emitted light, like the Bolognian Phosphorus, or calcined oyster-shells, so well explained by Mr. B. Wilson, and by T. B. Beccari.  Exper. on Phosphori, by B. Wilson.  Dodsley.  The light of the evening, at the same distance from noon, is much greater, as I have repeatedly observed, than the light of the morning:  this is owing, I suppose, to the phosphorescent quality of almost all bodies, in a greater or less degree, which thus absorb light during the sun-shine, and continue to emit it again for some time afterwards, though not in such quantity as to produce apparent scintillations.  The nectary of this plant grows from what is supposed to be the calyx; but this supposed calyx is coloured; and perhaps, from this circumstance of its bearing the nectary, should rather be esteemed a part of the coral.  See an additional note at the end of the poem.]

        Eight watchful swains along the lawns of night
        With amorous steps pursue the virgin light;
        O’er her fair form the electric lustre plays,
50 And cold she moves amid the lambent blaze. 
        So shines the glow-fly, when the sun retires,
        And gems the night-air with phosphoric fires;

[So shines the glow-fly. l. 52.  In Jamaica, in some seasons of the year, the fire-flies are seen in the evenings in great abundance.  When they settle on the ground, the bull-frog greedily devours them; which seems to have given origin to a curious, though cruel, method of destroying these animals:  if red-hot pieces of charcoal be thrown towards them in the dusk of the evening, they leap at them, and, hastily swallowing them, are burnt to death.]

        Thus o’er the marsh aerial lights betray,
        And charm the unwary wanderer from his way.
55 So when thy King, Assyria, fierce and proud,
        Three human victims to his idol vow’d;
        Rear’d a vast pyre before the golden shrine
        Of sulphurous coal, and pitch-exsuding pine;—­
        —­Loud roar the flames, the iron nostrils breathe,
60 And the huge bellows pant and heave beneath;
        Bright and more bright the blazing deluge flows,
        And white with seven-fold heat the furnace glows. 
        And now the Monarch fix’d with dread surprize
        Deep in the burning vault his dazzled eyes.
65 “Lo!  Three unbound amid the frightful glare,
        Unscorch’d their sandals, and unsing’d their hair! 
        And now a fourth with seraph-beauty bright
        Descends, accosts them, and outshines the light! 
        Fierce flames innocuous, as they step, retire!
70 And slow they move amid a world of fire!”
        He spoke,—­to Heaven his arms repentant spread,
        And kneeling bow’d his gem-incircled head.
        Two Sister-Nymphs, the fair AVENAS, lead
        Their fleecy squadrons on the lawns of Tweed;
75 Pass with light step his wave-worn banks along,
        And wake his Echoes with their silver tongue;
        Or touch the reed, as gentle Love inspires,
        In notes accordant to their chaste desires.