Les ruines, ou méditation sur les révolutions des empires

THE EXPOSITION.

An editorial illustration shows a circular map representing the globe. It displays the landmasses of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia and the Middle East as seen from a high altitude. Numbered locations correspond to a legend, including: 1. Pyramids. 3. Gaza. 4. Jordan. 5. Mt. Sinai. 7. Bahrain Isles. 8. Persepolis. 9. Ecbatana.

1. Pyramids.
3. Gaza.
4. Jordan River.
5. Mount Sinai.
7. Bahrain Isles.
8. Persepolis.
9. Ecbatana.

happiness descend upon him who practices justice! O young man! since your heart seeks truth with uprightness, since your eyes can still recognize it through the blindfold of prejudices, your prayer will not be in vain: I will expose to your sight this truth that you call upon; I will teach your reason this wisdom that you claim; I will reveal to you the wisdom of the tombs and the science of the ages. . . . Then approaching me, and placing his hand on my head: rise up, mortal, he told me, and release your senses from the dust where you crawl... And suddenly, penetrated by a celestial fire, the bonds that fix us here below seemed to dissolve; and like a light vapor, carried away by the flight of the Genius, I felt myself transported into the upper region. There, from the highest of the air, lowering my gaze toward the earth, I perceived a new scene. Under my feet, swimming in space, a globe similar to that of the moon, but smaller and less luminous, presented one of its faces (*) to me; and this face

(*) See here beside plate II, which represents one half of the earth.