This gate is inserted in the lofty
wall; which here appears to cross the river at right angles. In a
few moments, however, it is seen that the main body of the water still
sweeps in a gentle and extensive curve to the left, the wall following
it as before, while a stream of considerable volume, diverging from
the principal one, makes its way, with a slight ripple, under the
door, and is thus hidden from sight. The canoe falls into the lesser
channel and approaches the gate. Its ponderous wings are slowly and
musically expanded. The boat glides between them, and commences a
rapid descent into a vast amphitheatre entirely begirt with purple
mountains, whose bases are laved by a gleaming river throughout the
full extent of their circuit. Meantime the whole Paradise of Arnheim
bursts upon the view. There is a gush of entrancing melody; there is
an oppressive sense of strange sweet odor,- there is a dream- like
intermingling to the eye of tall slender Eastern trees- bosky
shrubberies- flocks of golden and crimson birds- lily-fringed lakes-
meadows of violets, tulips, poppies, hyacinths, and tuberoses- long
intertangled lines of silver streamlets- and, upspringing confusedly
from amid all, a mass of semi-Gothic, semi-Saracenic architecture
sustaining itself by miracle in mid-air, glittering in the red
sunlight with a hundred oriels, minarets, and pinnacles; and seeming
the phantom handiwork, conjointly, of the Sylphs, of the Fairies, of
the Genii and of the Gnomes.
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