Best Fantasy Stories

Nineteenth Evening

Nineteenth Evening"I come from Rome," said the Moon. "In the midst of the

city, upon one of the seven hills, lie the ruins of the imperial

palace. The wild fig tree grows in the clefts of the wall, and

covers the nakedness thereof with its broad grey-green leaves;

trampling among heaps of rubbish, the a*s treads upon green

laurels, and rejoices over the rank thistles. From this spot,

whence the eagles of Rome once flew abroad, whence they 'came, saw,

and conquered,' our door leads into a little mean house, built of

clay between two pillars; the wild vine hangs like a mourning

garland over the crooked window. An old woman and her little

granddaughter live there: they rule now in the palace of the

Caesars, and show to strangers the remains of its past glories. Of

the splendid thr