noon
The pontiff , with a clearer idea of the import of the inscription , protested against it , but in vain ; so the titled King , looking from the knoll with dying eyes , must have had the city of his fathers at rest below him -- she who had so ignominiously cast him out . The sun was rising rapidly to noon ; the hills bared their brown breasts lovingly to it ; the more distant mountains rejoiced in the purple with which it so regally dressed them . In the city , the temples , palaces , towers , pinnacles , and all points of beauty and prominence seemed to lift themselves into the unrivalled brilliance , as if they knew the pride they were giving the many who from time to time turned to look at them . Suddenly a dimness began to fill the sky and cover the earth -- at first no more than a scarce perceptible fading of the day ; a twilight out of time ; an evening gliding in upon the splendors of noon . But it deepened , and directly drew attention ; whereat the noise of the shouting and laughter fell off , and men , doubting their senses , gazed at each other curiously : then they looked to the sun again ; then at the mountains , getting farther away ; at the sky and the near landscape , sinking in shadow ; at the hill upon which the tragedy was enacting ; and from all these they gazed at each other again , and turned pale , and held their peace . `` It is only a mist or passing cloud , '' Simonides said soothingly to Esther , who was alarmed . `` It will brighten presently . ''