'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎218] (253/450)

RUINS OF PERSEPOLIS. [LET. III.
who was a very pleasant companion. Our first
stage was to Zergoon, which we left in the evening
of the 16th, and rode along the plain of Persepolis.
It was dark when we left the bridge of the Araxes.
My expectation was greatly excited. Chardin, when
I was a mere child, had inspired me with a great
desire to see these ruins, and the desires excited in
us in childhood are too vivid ever to be effaced.
Their gratification has a relish which motives sug
gested by reason and judgment are unable after
wards to equal. My late antiquarian researches
had, however, also added their interest to my other
inducements; and as I rode over the plain by the
beautiful star-light, reflections innumerable on the
great events that had happened there crowded on
my memory. I was in the moment of enjoying
what I had long wished for; and what a delightful
moment that is! At last the pointed summit began
to detach itself from the line of mountains to which
we were advancing. Mr. Tod pointed it out:—
Under that lie the ruins." At that moment the
moon rose with uncommon beauty behind it. Ages
seemed at once to present themselves to my fancy.
^ e were lodged in a half-ruined garden-house,
fronting the ruins, and at the distance of about a mile
from them. \ou may be assured that my last looks
at night, and first in the morning (I did not go to bed
till twelve and rose with the daw n) were directed to
that spot. \ et I took a capricious kind of pleasure