A CYLINDER SEAL.

a deed or writes a letter with a small bronze or ivory tool suited to his minute, cuneiform script, on a bit of moist clay shaped like a tiny pillow (p. 52). He signs it by rolling across the face the little engraved jasper or chalcedony cylinder, which he wears attached by a string to his wrist. Having baked it, he incloses it in a thin clay envelope, upon which he repeats his message or contract, and bakes it again. When the Chaldean dies, his friends shroud him in fine linen, and incase him in two large stone jars, so that the upper part of his body rests in one, and the lower part in the other, after which they cement the two jars together with mud or bitumen; or they lay him upon a brick platform with a reed matting beneath him, and place over him a huge, burnt-clay cover, -a marvel of pottery, formed of a single piece, and shaped like a modern tureen cover; or they put him on the mat in the family arched vault, pillowing his head on a sun-dried brick covered with a tapestry cushion. About him they arrange his ornaments and favorite implements; vases of wine are within his reach, and in the palm of his left hand they rest a bronze or copper bowl filled with dates or other food to strengthen him in his mysterious journey through the silent land.

Scene II.-4 Morning in Nineveh.-The Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon, exalted above all the trees of the field, so that all the trees that were in the garden of God envied him, and not one was like unto him in his beauty (Ezek. xxxi.). Six centuries and a half have passed since Chaldea was humbled by her northern neighbor; and Assyria, not dreaming that her own fall is so near, is in the fullness of her splendor and arrogance. It is about the year 650 B. C., and the proud Asshurbanipal is on the throne-Asshurbanipal, who has subdued the land of the Pyramids and the Labyrinth, and made Karnak and Luxor mere adjuncts to his glory. Nineveh, with her great walls one hundred feet in height, upon which three chariots can run abreast, lies before us. The bright spring sun of the Orient looks down upon a country luxuriant with a rich but short-lived verdure. Green myrtles and blossoming oleanders fringe the swollen streams, and the air is filled with the sweet odors of the citron-trees. The morning fog has loaded the dwarf oak with manna, and the rains have crowded the land with flowers. The towers, two hundred feet high, which mark the various city gates, throw long shadows over rows of windowless houses, topped with open domes or high, steep, cone-like roofs. Out from these houses come the people, dressed according to their several stations: bareheaded and barefooted laborers, clothed in one garment, a plain, short-sleeved tunic reaching to the knee; prosperous folk in sandals and fringed tunics, and the wealthy, in long

fringed and elegantly girdled robes. Only the higher orders are privileged to cover their heads with a cap, but all, even the meanest, glory in long, elaborately dressed hair. In the dwellings of the rich we may see furniture of elegant design: canopied beds and couches, and curtains of costly tapestry; carved stools and tables with feet fashioned like gazelle-hoofs; and, in the palace, luxurious chairs, and articles sacred to gods and the king. In the west end of the city, abutting the swiftflowing Tigris, is a high plat

form covering one hundred acres, on which stands the magnificent palace of Asshurbanipal. Near it is the still larger one built by Sennacherib, his grandfather, and about it are parks and hanging gardens. The palaces have immense portals guarded by colossal winged and humanheaded bulls and lions; great court-yards paved with elegantly patterned slabs; and arched doorways, elaborately sculptured and faced by eagleheaded deities. We miss the warm, glowing colors so generously lavished on Egyptian temples. There are traces of the painter, but his tints are more subdued and more sparingly used. It is the triumphant day of the sculptor and the enameler. Asshurbanipal sits on his carved chair, arrayed in his embroidered robe and mantle. On his breast rests a large circular ornament wrought with sacred emblems; golden rosettes glitter on his redand-white tiara, and rosettes and crescents adorn his shoes. He wears a sword and daggers, and holds a golden scepter. Necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and ear-rings add to his costume. Behind him is his parasolbearer, grasping with both hands a tall, thick pole supporting a fringed and curtained shade. His Grand Vizier-who interprets his will to the people, and whose dress approaches his own in magnificencestands before him in an attitude of passive reverence to receive the royal orders; the scribes are waiting to record the mandate, and a host of attendants are at hand to perform it.

Scene III.- Royal Lion-hunt.-To-day it is a lion-hunt. At the palace gates, surrounded by a waiting retinue, stands the king's chariot, headed by three richly caparisoned horses, champing bronze bits and gayly tinkling the bells on their tasseled collars, while grooms hold other horses to be placed before the chariots of high officials, after

the monarch shall have mounted. As the king steps into the box-like chariot, his two favorite eunuchs adjust the well-stocked quivers, put in the long spears, and enter behind him; the charioteer loosens the reins, and the horses start at full speed. At the park, or "paradise," a large circuit is inclosed by a double rampart of spearmen and archers, and a row of hounds held in leashes. Here the lions kept for the king's sport wait in their cages. Having arrived at the park and received a ceremonious salute, the king gives the order to release the wild beasts. Cautiously creeping out from their cages, they seem at first to seek escape; but the spearmen's large shields and bristling weapons dazzle their eyes; the fierce dogs, struggling in their leashes, howl in their ears; and the king's well-aimed arrows quickly enrage them to combat. Swifter and swifter fly the darts. The desperate beasts spring at the chariot sides only to receive death-thrusts from the spears of the attendants, while the excited king shoots rapidly on

in front. Now one has seized the chariot-wheel with his huge paws, and grinds it madly with his teeth; but he, too, falls in convulsions to the ground. The sport fires the blood of the fierce Asshurbanipal. He jumps from his chariot, orders fresh lions to be released, grasps his long spear, selects the most ferocious for a hand-to-hand combat, furiously dispatches him, and, amid the deafening shouts of his admiring courtiers, proclaims his royal content. The hunt is over; the dead lions have been collected for the king's inspection, and are now borne on the shoulders of men in a grand procession to the palace, whither the king precedes them. The chief officers of the royal household come out to welcome him; the cup-bearer brings wine, and, while the king refreshes himself, busily plies his long fly-whisk about the royal head, the musicians meantime playing merrily upon their harps. It remains to offer the finest and bravest of the game to the god of the chase; and four of the largest lions are accordingly selected and arranged side by side before the altar. The king and his attendants,

all keeping time to formal music, march in stately majesty to the shrine, where Asshurbanipal raises the sacred cup to his lips, and slowly pours the solemn libation. A new sculpture depicting the grand event of the day is ordered, and beneath it is inscribed,

"I, Asshurbanipal, king of the nations, king of Assyria, in my great courage, fighting on foot with a lion terrible for its size, seized him by the ear, and in the name of Asshur and of Ishtar, Goddess of War, with the spear that was in my hand I terminated his life."

Scene IV.-Asshurbanipal going to War.-The king goes to war in his chariot, dressed in his most magnificent attire, and attended by a retinue of fan-bearers, parasol-bearers, bow, quiver, and mace-bearers. About these gather his body-guard of foot-spearmen, each one brandishing a tall spear and protected by scale-armor, a pointed helmet, and a great metal shield. The detachment of horse-archers which follows is also dressed in coats of mail, leather breeches, and jackboots. Before and behind the royal cortége stretches the army-a vast array of glancing helmets, spears, shields, and battle-axes; warriors in chariots, on horse, and on foot; heavy-armed archers in helmet and armor, with the strung bow on the shoulders and the highly decorated quiver filled with bronze or iron-headed arrows on the back; light-armed archers with embroidered head-bands and short tunics, and bare arms, limbs, and feet; spearmen who carry great wicker shields, which are made, in case of need, to join and furnish boats; and troops of slingers, mace-bearers, and ax-bearers. The massive throne of the king is in the cavalcade; upon this, when the battle or siege is ended, he will sit in great state to receive the prisoners and spoil. Here, too, are his drinking-cups and washing bowls, his low-wheeled pleasure-chair, his dressing-table, and other toilet luxuries. Battering-rams, scaling-ladders, baggage-carts, and the usual paraphernalia of a great army make up the rear, where also in carefully closed arabas are the king's wives, who, with the whole court, follow him to war. The Ninevites come out in crowds to see the start; the musicians-who, however, remain at home-play a brisk farewell on double-pipes, harps, and drum; the women and children, standing in procession, clap their hands and sing; and so, amid "the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots" (Nahum iii. 2), the Assyrian army sets off.

Scene V.-A Royal Banquet.-After many days the host comes back victorious (the sculptors never record defeats), bringing great spoil of gold, silver, and fine furniture, countless oxen, sheep, horses, and camels, prisoners of war, and captured foreign gods. Rejoicing and festivities abound. A royal feast is given in the most magnificent of the sculptured halls, where the tables glitter with gold and silver stards laden with dried locusts, pomegranates, grapes, and citrons.