Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-23
RIVERS.
RIVERS.
Strange power of fate! mistaken moies must waste
While things that ever move, forever last!

ParneM.
Seneca says, "where spring rises, or RI
YER flows, ,here should we build affairs, aud offer
sacrifices" This idea was not original with
the philosopher Of Corduba; yet ne has so e'e-
gantIy expressed it, thar it is justly credited to
him: and the lesson intended comes with dou-
BILE force to the understanding, from source
which like the ballow'd springs it speaks Of,
makes his precep's beautiful and mighty RI
yer and which will cease TO flow only when the
mower Of language is forever banished from the
haunts of humanity.
The blessings derived from those gifts The
Almighty, would very naturally lead the CRATE
full and pious Inhabitants OF their banks, to a :
tlore and sacrifice to HIM, upon, or near their
waters; and superstition who is always so rea-
DIV to en.ei where devotion has found room tor
its expanding power, has gradually identified
the Deity with his works, and taught the wor'
shipper to address the river as god, and an Oh
iect worthy of every token Of generation and
worship. According to Quintus C"rius and
Arrian, the coEqueror Of the world-Alexan.
der-while he contemplated the subj ga'ion OF
India, BY descending the Sinde, invoked Ii as a
Deity; and from the prov OF his ship, poured
ibarions into the stream, from golden goble's
The same conqueror observed The same cere-
mony, in hi. descent of the Hydrspes.
The Peneus, we are informed by Maximus
Tyrius, was adored for its beauty; the Danube
for its size; the Archelous for the sanctly Of It's
traditions. Some rivers are superstltiossiy be-
Iieved 10 perform miracu lous cures; such as bar.
renness,-,he leprosy; and to others the power
was accorded of striking thieves blind. Jose
pbus. too. speaks Of river Of Palestine, which
rested, and of course had no current, on the
Jewish Sabbath! Elan tells us thai Xcrxes
was once near 2erishing Of thirst, for the wan,
of the waters Of the Choasp river ofwhich
alone their kings were obliged by The laws OF
Persia to drink. In their long and distant cam
paigns, it was necessary for these kings TO have
their water carried about, in silver vessels, Tor
their use. The origin OF this law was no doubt
good. 1t was perhaps enacted IN the primitive
ages Of the empire, by rulers who were wise e.
nough TO see the advantages OF peace IN order
10 prevent their kings from going on distant *
ruinous plans Of conquest.
The Adonis, so named in honor Of the fabu-
lous bow who despised the love Of Venus, was
universally venerated by the ladies OF the east.
Feas,s were instituted in honor Of him, which
were held al the anniversary of his deaih, and
lasted TWO DAYS. At that time the river was
believed to assume the color of blood, in SYM
pa,hy for his fate, for he was supposed to be
slain in the mountains among which the stream
rises. According TO Maundrell, the river to
this day has red color during its annual fresh
ct, caused by the red earth Of the mountains
brough, down by the torrents OF rain
The associations which history, poetry, and
even philosophy make with rivers, are beyond
description grand and beautiful Who ever
w,,hou, at the same time giving the memory
a moment TO rest upon the 'yres Of Horace,
Virgil and Ovid? DO we read Of The Arno, the
M;noio. or the Tagus? We cannot without
emb,4viug our thoughts in the living language
ef their worshppers,-Petrarch, Boccacio, and
GaMoe And how many burning ideas, and
" nv" any beloved themes, endeared 10 US oy
. .a"Esnsd a,f,tion in our own language are a,
,he A ION. the Dssmes of the Tweed the sever"
Think Of the IIlyapd the ayr; ..,.,;.
pupih in the philosophy nere raw law ,;ssd
than tw.,iy centuries T&.sh mas hsen mo-" H1
pheus lam.nted the loss oe hisy.noh;i; ene'e ~.
Meander; fro,, its sinuosi:ies ahI.''ce IL.
Dsdalus caught the first conception Ttn m;
nous labyrinth us Ia
Let us think OF the Nile;-t follow in
train OF thoughts il awaSens the inspired writ
ings OF Moses, the thousand mysteries s. mon.
umen,s Of Egyptian antiquity: he learning and
arts Of Greece and Persia, which aowed like 81
many streams from its exbaus. less source. The
Cydnus;- and all the luxurious and wanton pa
gean,ry Of Cleopatra, which lost Anthony the
empire Of the world, comes at once into ou
mind. The Issus;-and we think OF The fall o.
Darius before the inviucible career Of Aexar,
der.
A custom prevailed in the time of Petrarch
among The women on the banks Of the Rhine
Of assembling annually to wash their hands il
that river, fondly hoping that such lustratIon'
would preserve them from danger and misfor-
tunes, during the remainder of the year. "Hap.
py," said he to himself, "are these women
since their river runs away with all their mise,
ries. All! happy should we be in Italy, if the
'riber and the Miuco possessed the same yir,
tue"
Returning from this eccentric tour, how
ga'eful it is to let ou' mind have resting pac.
on the romantic shores and bright waters o
our own Hudson. Two centuries since, ant
its borders, covered with boundless forests
echoed only to The song Of the wild native hunt
er. Its waves were then only pressed with the
weigh, Of the Indian canoe; and how il is now
changed! Its valleys are crowded with bus,