The Sidonians had now placed the last seal upon their bond of friendship. It was deeply impressed upon the mind of the receiver, and could never be forgotten, or razed from the tablet of Tyrian memory! It was truly a subject for the Sculptor's art to perpetuate, not only upon their Temples, but upon the "Chief Altar" in whatever land or country their future fate should cast them. And such we believe to be the subject of the Sculpture upon the Chief Altar of Copan in Ancient America, erected by Gratitude as a Religious Tribute to Friendship; that whenever they should bow in reverence to their visible God, they should remember the parental act, which alone had enabled them to offer praises to their Deity! The Sidonians in their departure for their home upon the Mediterranean, must have received the united blessings of a People, who through their means only, had been rescued from desolation or death, and in the terrible forms of Conflagration or Crucifixion.
The Last of the Tyrian Nation, the remnant of an once powerful People, were about to trust themselves again upon that element which had ever befriended them,—and upon which they had ever moved as the Lords of the domain: but, they had now no merry metropolis to receive them,—no walled citadel whose antiquity would speak to them of "ancient days:" recollections of the past were terrible,—the anticipations of the future were dark and uncertain,—and in the present time only could they view security. To return to any known part of Asia, Africa, or Europe, was impossible,—their only path from the Fortunate Isle was forth upon an untracked Ocean. Their final landing-place might be afar off,—their sojourn for ever;—but Apollo and Astartē, their imaged orbs of Day and Night, were to be the "lanterns to their feet,"—and their skilful knowledge, would shelter them beneath the gorgeous, and star-gemmed mantle of Astronomy!
The reader now may naturally inquire, How does this position and resolution of the Tyrians agree with "a seventh and last Prophecy," alluded to in the commencement of this Chapter as being now newly applied?—and what is that Prophecy by Isaiah?
The answers will be given with firmness, from the conscientious conviction of their truth. Those natural points of debate in the minds of the Tyrians, were the preliminaries to the fulfilment,—and their safe landing and sojourn in the Western Hemisphere, were the actual accomplishment of the Prophecy!
The prediction may have been unknown to this remnant of a Nation,—for it was uttered to the Jewish people, and by one of that great family,—Isaiah,—and nearly 400 years previous to the Alexandrian Siege. The Sacred Prophet distinctly says, [xxiii. 7]—
"Howl, ye inhabitants of the Isle! [Tyrus] Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days?"
This sentence by its question is spoken as to the Tyrians;—but the line immediately following, was uttered as of them, and from the wording, from the very spirit of a pre-knowledge of a future event!—viz.,
"Her own feet shall carry her [Tyrus] afar off to sojourn!"
This Prophetic line (brief as it is) contains four distinct and important parts, yet each as necessary to the whole, as quadruple angles to the perfection of a square: viz.—