118                                HISTORY OF
 

CHAPTER IV.
 

How the heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell-
Gate, and how they were received there.

And now the rosy blush of morn began to man¬
tle in the east, and soon the rising sun, emerging
from amidst golden and purple clouds, shed his
blithsome rays on the tin weathercocks of Com¬
munipaw. It was that delicious season of the year,
when nature, breaking from the chilling thraldom
of old winter, like a blooming damsel, from the
tyranny of a sordid old father, threw herself, blush¬
ing with ten thousand charms, into the arms of
youthful spring. Every tufted copse and bloom¬
ing grove, resounded with the notes of hymeneal
love. The very insects, as they sipped the dew
that gemmed the tender grass of the meadows,
joined in the joyous epithalamium—the virgin bud
timidly put forth its blushes, '' the voice of the
turtle was heard in the land," and the heart of
man dissolved away in tenderness. Oh! sweet
Theocritus! had I thine oaten reed, wherewith thou
erst did charm the gay Sicilian plains—Or Oh!
gentle Bion! thy pastoral pipe, wherein the happy
swains of the Lesbian isle so much delighted, then
might I attempt to sing, in soft Bucolic or negli -