Beirut (Beyrout)

ثم تيمم الصعيد الطيب وأبرق على برقة منه صيب، ثم غزى غزة وهز عسقلان هزة، وعك إلى عكا، واستشهد بالقدس، وزكى فلحق من الهاربين الأقصى بقلب كالصخرة، ولولا فتح باب الرحمة لقامت القيامة في مرة، ثم طوى المراحل ونوى أن يلحق الساحل، فصاد صيدا، وبغت بيروت كيدا، ثم سدد الرشق إلى جهة دمشق، فتربع ثم وتميد وفتك كل يوم بألف وأزيد فأقل الكثرة وقتل خلقا ببثرة.

Then it went down to Upper Egypt, as a believer turns to clean earth for washing. A cloudburst of it flashed lightning over Barqa. Then it raided Gaza and gave Ashkelon a shaking. It pressed hard on Acre. In Jerusalem it took martyrs. It overtook even those who had fled the farthest, with a heart as hard as the Rock. Had the Gate of Mercy not been opened, the Resurrection would have come at once. Then it covered the stages of the road, meaning to reach the coast. It hunted down Sidon and caught Beirut off guard by a trick. Then it aimed its volley at Damascus. There it settled in and swayed [?], killing a thousand and more every day. It made the many few, and it killed a multitude with a single pustule.

It was one so easy, so charming, and I think profitable — it leaves such a store of pleasant recollections for after days — and creates so many new sources of interest (a newspaper letter from Beyrout, or Malta, or Algiers has twice the interest now that it had formerly), — that I can't but recommend all persons who have time and means to make a similar journey — vacation idlers to extend their travels and pursue it: above all, young, well-educated men entering life, to take this course, we will say, after that at college; and, having their book-learning fresh in their minds, see the living people and their cities, and the actual aspect of Nature, along the famous shores of the Mediterranean.

It was so easy, so charming, and, I think, profitable. It leaves such a store of pleasant memories for later days, and it creates so many new sources of interest. (A newspaper letter from Beirut, or Malta, or Algiers now has twice the interest it had before.) So I can't help recommending all persons who have the time and means to make a similar journey. Vacation idlers should extend their travels and follow it. Above all, young, well-educated men entering life should take this course—after their course at college, let us say. With their book-learning fresh in their minds, they should see the living people and their cities, and the actual face of Nature, along the famous shores of the Mediterranean.