r 
 
 ii 
 
 KX I.IHRIS 
 
 WILLIAM BOLTON. 
 
 Addiscombe, i 
 
 B ooJl: of mitu, tho worn and old. 
 
 Oft as I peruse thy pages, 
 
 L I find some Jewel rare 
 
 T tusted to thy guardian care; 
 
 O r some precept of the Sages 
 
 N o.c ht'iome transmuted gold. 
 
 HUR PROBSTHAIN 
 
 ental Bookseller 
 St. Rusiell Street 
 N DO N. W.C. I
 
 p.^;
 
 THE 
 
 T^lLli OF THE ©iliJOl] I-.
 
 THF 
 
 ITALES OF THE GENII 
 
 TRANSLATED 
 
 FROM THE PERSIAN 
 
 SIR CHARLES MORELL. 
 
 ( f^'cU^ ) 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THOMAS ALLMAN, 
 
 42, HOLBORN HILL.
 
 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 SRLF 
 
 1; ' 
 
 It is, perhaps, quite unnecessary to inform our 
 readers, that Sir Charles Morell, which has 
 so long appeared on the title-page of these Tales, 
 •was an assumed name. The real author was Mr. 
 Mr. James Ridley, eldest son of the Rev. Dr. 
 Gloucester Ridley, a clergyman of considerable 
 eminence, and the author of a very elaborate life 
 of his great ancestor, the celebrated martyr. Bi- 
 shop Ridley. 
 
 James Ridley was educated at Winchester, and 
 New College, Oxford; and, after taking orders 
 succeeded his father in the living of Rumford in 
 I Essex. In the year 17G1, while attending his 
 duty as chaplain to a marching regiment at the 
 siege of Belleisle, he laid the foundation of some 
 disorders, from which, to the unspeakable grief of 
 his family and friends, he never recovered, and 
 which, some years after, being then happily mar- 
 ried and preferred in the church, terminated his 
 life in February 1765. 
 
 He wrote the Schemer, a very humorous perio- 
 dical paper, for the London Chronicle, but after- 
 wards collected into a volume and published. He 
 was also the author of the History of James Love- 
 grove, Esq. : but the Tales now presented to the 
 reader, is the work on which his fame principally 
 rests ; and the many editions through which it 
 has passed, sufficiently attests its popularity. 

 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Tlie Life of Horam . . .1 
 
 TALE L 
 
 Tlie Talisman of Oromancs; or, the Adven- 
 tures of the Merchant Abudah . . 2G 
 
 TALE IL 
 The Dervise Alfouran , . .80 
 
 TALE IIL 
 History of Hassan Assar, Caliph of Bagdat 92 
 
 TALE IV. 
 Kelaun and Guzzarat . . , 103 
 
 TALE V. 
 
 The Adventures of L^rad ; or, the Fair Wan- 
 derer 133 
 
 TALE VL 
 
 The Enchanters ; or, Misnar the Sultan of 
 
 Persia . . . . V 
 
 The History of Mahoud . . .11 
 
 The History of the Princess of Cassimir 2G2 
 
 TALE VII. 
 
 Sadakand Kalasrade ; or, the Waters of Ob- 
 livion . . . .2 
 
 TALE VIII. 
 Mir^lip the Persian ; or, Phesoj Ecneps the 
 Dervise of the Groves ; including the Ad- 
 ventures of Adhim the Magnificent . 354
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 During my long and painful residence in many 
 different parts of Asia, botli in the Mogul's domi- 
 nions, and in those of the Ottoman Empire, it was 
 my fortune, several times, to meet with a small 
 jPersian work, entitled, 'The Delightful Lessons 
 [of Horam the son of Asmar :' a book of great note 
 [both at Isaphan and Constantinople, and frequently 
 [read by the religious teachers of Mahomet to their 
 I disciples, to excite them to works of morality and 
 [religion. 
 
 I I confess, being chiefly conversant in trade, I had 
 very little appetite to read the religious doctrines 
 of Pagans ; and it was not till I had met with the 
 work in almost every part of Asia, that I was 
 tempted to examine a book recommended on the 
 score of their religion. But a few hours reading in 
 it made me repent my former want of curiosity ; as 
 the descriptions were lively, the tales interesting 
 and delightful, and the morals aptly and beauti- 
 fully couched under the most entertaining images 
 of a romantic imagination. 
 
 Having got this treasure into my possession, it 
 was my next study to translate it into my native 
 language; intending it, when completed, as a pre- 
 sent to my wife and family in England. But, busi- 
 ness calling me to Forte St. George, 1 unfortunately 
 left a part of the manuscript behind me at Bombay, 
 I was sensibly affected at tliis less, and the more so, 
 as I found it impossible, through the multiplicity 
 of my affairs, to replace my tianslation : so I gave 
 over all thoughts of my intended present, and con- 
 tented myself with frequently reading the enchant- 
 ing original
 
 2 THE LIFE OF IIORAM. 
 
 But if my voyage to Forte St. George deprive 
 my family of the translation, it doubly repaid m 
 loss, by the addition of a very valuable frieijd, wit 
 whom I got acquainted at Fort St. George. Thi 
 was no other than the great Horam, and author o 
 the book in question, who then resided in th 
 Blacks J'own, and was esteemed as a saint by a 
 denominations, both Pagans and Mohammedan 
 and who was very intimate with the English be 
 longing to the Fort. 
 
 As I was extremely desirous of his acquaintance 
 and very assiduous in pleasing him, he soon distin 
 gtiished me from the rest of my countrymen ; an 
 he would often, in our walks through the gardens 
 at the back of the Fort, entertain me with his ele 
 pant and instructive conversation. At these time 
 J did not fail, at proper intervals, to lament hi 
 disbelief of our Holy Christian Faith. To tliis, fo 
 some time he made no answer; but wheneve 
 it was mentioned, he seemed more thoughtful an 
 reserved. But I considered the subject of to 
 much consequence to be laid aside, merely on 
 point of punctilio, and therefore seldom omitted t 
 brinsr it up in all our private conversations; till a 
 length, one day, after I had been for some tim 
 expatiating on the blessings of Christianity, h 
 stopped short, and falling prostrate on the sand 
 walk, in a solemn and audible voice pronounced a 
 follows, in the Persian language : — 
 
 < O Alia ! thou most powerful and mercifi 
 Being ; who, although thou spannest the heaven 
 with thine hand, dost nevertheless endue the pis 
 mire and the bee with wisdom and knowledge 
 vouchsafe also to enlighten the understanding c 
 the reptile that adores thee ; and if it be thy wil 
 wdio canst cause the light to rise out of darkne 
 that these men should teach that with their lips ft
 
 THE LIFE OP HORAM. 3 
 
 ruth, which they will not acknowledge by their 
 ives, have mercy both on me and them : — on me, 
 fho cannot be convicted by precept without ex- 
 mple; and on them, who mock and deny thee, 
 inder the semblance of faith and obedience! Are 
 lot the Christian vices, O Alia, more hateful in thy 
 i2;htthan Pagan blindness? and the eyesof those 
 vho boast superior light, more dim than the eyes 
 >f him who gropeth in darkness and error ? Are 
 hese men, who are hliarp and greedy in worldly 
 ^ain. lavish and profuse of heavenly riches? And 
 vould they who covet the dust of India, oflFer us an 
 iternal exchange for our mouldering possessions? 
 5urely the purest and wisest religion cannot be 
 •evealed to the most unthankful and ignorant of 
 nankind. The pearl would not be cast to the 
 iwine, and the children of Alia be deprived of their 
 nheritance. But the worm must not fly, the 
 gnorant must not judge, nor dust presume \" 
 
 After saying this, which, 1 confess affected me 
 trongly, he continued some time in awful silence, 
 irostrate on the ground; and at length arose, with 
 ears in his eyes, saying, * Be the will of Alia, the 
 aw of his creature !' — It was some minutes before I 
 ould muster up words and resolution to answer 
 Horam, so much was I awed by his just, though 
 severe imprecations : but observing him still con- 
 inue his meditations, I ventured to begin. 
 
 ' My friend,' said I, 'God is just, and man is 
 sinful. The Christian religion is professed by mil- 
 ions, and all are not like the merchants of India. 
 If these prefer wealth to religion, there are many 
 ivho have suffered for the cause of Christ ; who 
 iiave preferred an ignominious de-nth in his fai h,to 
 ill the glories of infidelity. I, indeed, am not like 
 roe of these; but I ti-ust, O Horam, that ray faith, 
 though wef'k, is not dead ; and that my obedience,
 
 4 THE LIFE OF HOKAM. 
 
 though imperfect, will yet be accepted, tlirouL:U 
 His merits whom I serve.' 
 
 ' If all Christians were like my friend,' said Ho- 
 ram, ' Horam would embrace the faith of Christ: 
 but what are those who mingle with infidels, whose, 
 days are the days of riot, and whose nights are the 
 nights of intemperance and wantonness ? who teach! 
 truth, and practise deceit? who, calling themselves. 
 Christians, do deeds unworthy of Pagans ?' 
 
 * These,' said I, ' my friend, arc most of them 
 unhappy men of strong passions and small instruc 
 tion, who were sent here as forlorn hopes ; but ever 
 of these, many have turned out sober and religious 
 and have spent the latter part of their lives in pietj 
 and devotion.' 
 
 ' What !' interrupted Horam, * they have servec 
 their lusts first, and their God last ! Alia, whom 
 worship, likes not such votaries; he requires thi 
 earliest offerings of a pious heart, and prayers an( 
 thanksgiving that arise to Heaven ere the dew 
 the night disappear. The man who serves the all 
 glorious Alia, must prostrate himself ere the watch 
 ful sun accuse him of sloth by his reviving pre 
 sence, and continue his adoration when the lam 
 of day is no longer seen. He must enter into th 
 society of the faithful, while manhood delays t 
 seal him for his own ; and persevere in his marcl; 
 as the Rajaputas of the East.' 
 
 *0 Horam,' answered I, 'were the God whoi* 
 we worship to be worshipped in perfectness, tl 
 whole length of our lives would not suffice 1 
 lie prostrate before him ; but our merciful Fath( 
 expects not more from us than we are able to pr 
 him. True it is, that we ought to begin early, ar 
 late take rest, and daily and hourly offer up oi' 
 praises and petitions to the throne of his grac' 
 But better is a late repentance than none ; and tl
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. O 
 
 jleventh hour of the day for work, than perpetual 
 i dleness unto the end of our time: and this is not 
 Obtained to us but through the mercies of our Lord 
 Smd Saviour J — not the Prophet only, as Mahomet 
 [•epresents him, but the King, the Priest, and the 
 i5aviour of mankind !' 
 
 I ' What Saviour is this,' said Horam, ' of whom 
 j/ou speak so often, and in such raptures? Can one 
 t ;hen save another from the wrath of God, when you 
 jy'ourself acknowledge the best of men to be his 
 bnprofitable servants V 
 
 ! 'Asa man only,' answered I, ' he cannot; but as 
 (God and man, he was able; and did offer a full atone- 
 ; inent, not only for my sins, but for yours also.' 
 j ' It is certain,' said Horam, ' that all flesh is 
 I weak and corrupted; and, as the creatures of God, 
 
 I we cannot suppose that He, who is all goodness and 
 perfection, should make us unable to perform 
 what natural sense informs us, is our duty both to 
 , Alia and his creatures : that some supernatural 
 [power was necessary to relieve us, I grant ; but I 
 jee not why we should go so high as to suppose that 
 power must be Divine.' 
 
 ' If the offence,' answered I, 'was against God, 
 God could only remit the punishment, and no 
 creature of God could possibly pay him more ser- 
 vice than was due from an entire dependent on his 
 Maker. Therefore, neither angel, nor saint, nor 
 prophet could redeem ; for all they could do, 
 was but the discharge of their own moral debts, 
 and cannot be called a work of mediation for an- 
 other. With regard to a prophet or any private 
 man ; give him the utmost power and favour with 
 God ; suppose him to be born perfect, to pay an 
 I unsinning obedience ; yet he still has paid but the 
 service of one man, and therefore can satisfy but 
 for one ; and with regard to angel, genius, or supe-
 
 6 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 rior beitif^, though superior to man, he is but a ser- 
 vant of God, and a debtor to his Creator, to whom 
 he must for ever owo all possible service and obe- 
 dience. Considering an atonement in this light, O 
 Horam, you see no po^^sible Saviour but one equal 
 to Gi)d : *iind to suppose tliat there be many gods, is 
 to derogate from his honour, and to deny his 
 government and power. Tlierefore, we Christians 
 are taught that tlie Sou came from the Father; tiie 
 Messias, wlioin David wislied to see, and called him 
 Lord ; of whom all the prophets, in the books of 
 tlie prophecies of the Israelites, did prophesy; who 
 took upon him our flesh, that he misht be enabled 
 to siiffiT for the infirmities of mankind. And truly, 
 I think, O Horam, that this stupendous instance of 
 mercy cannot be looked upon as absurd or un- 
 reasonable, though it be the most supreme declara- 
 tion of God's mercy and forgiveness. For when God 
 condemns, who can ransom but God himself? or to 
 whom, think you, the glory of man's redemption 
 could be with any propriety attributed, but to the 
 Lord of all mercies V 
 
 ' Mr. Morell,' said Horam, there is reason and 
 truth in the words of my friend ; but I am per- 
 suaded, few of the Christians I have seen, think so 
 seriously of these things as you do: profession 
 without practice, and faith (I think you call it so) 
 witliout a true belief, contents your brethren. If 
 your rcliuMou is true, how wicked are the greatest 
 part of the Europeans ! I can compare them only 
 to silly women, who strive to shut out the glories 
 of the meridian sim, that they may poke over the 
 dull light of an offensive lamp.' 
 
 My friend and I had many such conversations, 
 but this in particular I took down as soon as I left 
 him ; because, I confess, I was very much shocked 
 at his judicious remarks: and, I am. sure, if they
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 7 
 
 make as much impression on others as they did on 
 me, they will not be unserviceable to the world, 
 should ever these sheets see the public light. 
 
 And now I am in the vein of writing, and recol- 
 lecting these passages between Horam and myself 
 which give me great pleasure, I cannot omit men 
 tioning one particular, which passes between us pre- 
 viously to his relation of his own adventures to me. 
 We were disputing, as usual, on religion, and 
 , Horam was remarkably strenuous in contending for 
 his Prophet Mahomet; when I said to him, 'Tell 
 me then, Horam, since you are so bigoted to the 
 Mohammedan religion, what invitations have you 
 to propose, should I be willing to enter into your 
 faith V 
 
 *0, my friend,' answered Horam, shaking his 
 
 head, * I too well understand the meaning of your 
 
 deceitful request ! Yes,' continued he, ' I know, 
 
 \ the professors of my religion are apt to propose a 
 
 [ multitude of wives, and the pleasures of women, to 
 
 ' those who will embrace our faith : but these, O 
 
 i Morell, I dare not promise, for I am scandalized 
 
 I at the Mohammedans, when I reflect, that worldly 
 
 pleasures are ail that we promise to those who will 
 
 take the name of Mahomet for their prophet : but 
 
 ' surely the young only can propose such })leasurcs, 
 
 ' and the young can only be captivated by them, 
 
 I Worldly jo\s aie mean incitements to the love of 
 
 I Alia, and impure embraces but little signs of purest 
 
 ; faith. Had 1 an inestimable gem, should I honour 
 
 I it by placing it in the mire ? or would any one be- 
 
 ■ licve that 1 had treasured it up amidst the filth of 
 
 I the earth V 
 
 \ The more I conversed with Horam, the more 
 
 reason had 1 to admire both his natural and 
 
 I acquired talents: he was a bigot to no religion, and 
 
 had as few prepossessions as ever I met with in man.
 
 » THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 By his discourse, I found he had travelled into 
 many parts of the world ; and, by his sensible reflec- 
 tions, perceived that he had made a noble use of 
 his studies and travels. This made me very desirous 
 of hearinc? an account of his life; which, after some 
 lenjTth of acquaintance, he indulged me in. 
 
 I catne, (said he,) from the confines of the 
 Caspian Sea ; and the mother who bore me was the 
 widow of Adenam Asmar, the Iman of Ferabad: 
 she lived on the contribution of my father's friends, 
 who was adored, when living, for his piety and de- 
 votion ; and those who supported her, spared no 
 pains nor cost in my education, that I might tread in 
 the steps of Adenam my father. At twelve years of 
 age, my friends sent me in the caravan to Mousul, 
 to study under Acham, the most learned of the 
 teachers of the law of Mahomet. "With this sage I 
 continued for nine years, and officiated for him in 
 the mosques of Mousul; till Alhoun, the bashaw of 
 Diarbee, taking occasion to quarrel with our cadie, 
 marched towards Mousul, and utterly destroyed 
 the place ; carrying away with him four hundred of 
 the inhabitant*, whom he sold for slaves. Among 
 this number was Horam, the friend of thy bosom ; 
 who, though an Iman, was nevertheless sent to 
 Aleppo by the avaricious bashaw, and sold to an 
 English merchant. With this person, whose name 
 was Wimbleton, I lived for several years; and, 
 having a ready memory, I applied myself to lean> 
 the English language, and served him inthequalitv 
 of an interpreter. My master, finding me both 
 faithful and useful, soon employed me to traffick 
 for him in the inland countries; and I travelled 
 with the caravans into most parts of Amasia, 
 Turcomania, Armenia, Curdistan, and Persia : an I 
 executing my commissions to the satisfaction of my 
 master, he gave me my liberty, upon condition that
 
 THE LIFE OF HOKAM. 9 
 
 I would, during his life, serve him in the capacity 
 of a steward. I accepted with thanks his boun- 
 teous offer, and Alia made the time of my servi- 
 tude as the shadow before the sun. 
 
 Within two years my master died, and com- 
 manded me on his death- bed to make up his effects, 
 {■ and send or carry them to England to his brother, 
 who, he said, but little deserved them, (but the 
 grave should not be entered by those who were at 
 : enmity,) allowing me a quarter part for my sub- 
 ' sistence : ' For freedom,' said he, ' without property, 
 \ is but an obligation to change, perhaps, a good 
 master for a worse.' — I was greatly affected at the 
 death of my master, and resolved to undertake 
 the journey to England in person; reserving only 
 one-tenth of my master's fortune, which was suf- 
 i ficient to satisfy the desires of one whose hope 
 [ was not fixed on the pleasures of life. 
 I Having collected my master's effects, I passed 
 t through the IMediterranean to Leghorn, and thence 
 it to Paris, and so by Calais to London. In the 
 I countries which I passed, I saw, with surprise, the 
 magnificence of the popish religion; where, how- 
 ever, ceremony seems to possess the seat of moral 
 duties, and superstition is clothed in the vestments 
 of faith. I was surprised to find such absurdities 
 in Europe, where I was warned by my master to 
 expect the most rational customs, and the purest 
 light of virtue and religion. But the female glance 
 will not always bear to be exposed, and the veils of 
 the East Avould well become the faces of the 
 European ladies. I often perceived a customary 
 monotony in the prayers of Christian priests, and 
 the fervour of devotion was buried in the un- 
 meaning gestures of its votaries. In the East we 
 fall low before Alia, we are earnest in our peti- 
 tions; but in Europe, Christians seem as uncon-
 
 10 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 cerned in the temple as in their houses of refresh- 
 ment, and often as loquacious and familiar. But 
 this I have observed more frequent in England 
 than in any otl)cr part of the world. Indepd, the 
 English behave as though they were wiser than 
 the God they pretend to worship; they attend him 
 •with great inditference ; and it" the face is an index 
 of the mind, a bystander may perceive, that when 
 they meet together to worship tlieir Deity, they 
 think of every tiling but of relision. Perhaps, a 
 variety of attitudes is, amongst Christians, a mark 
 of the highest adoration ; if so, the English are 
 the most meritorious devotees 1 ever beheld. — 
 Some are sitting, some are standing, some are 
 lolling, some are yawning, some are even sleeping; 
 and all these varieties are to be met with in the 
 same part of their worship : so that a stranger 
 would imagine, that there was a great diversity of 
 opinion among Christians, even in the same 
 church, which was the most decent and becoming 
 posture for a sinner to use before a God of purity : 
 for so I think the Christians call their Deity. But 
 I will not trouble vou with my observations, which 
 were chiefly religious, as my first studies in life 
 naturally led me to observe the different modes of 
 religion among mankind. 
 
 I waited upon the brother of my deceased master 
 with a faithful account of his effects, and informed 
 him how generous my master had been to me in 
 allotting to me one quarter of his effects. Mr. 
 Edward Wimbleton chan.:ed colour at my relation ; 
 the death of his brother did not seem to affect him 
 so much as my declaration, that my master had 
 been so beneficent to me. I was grieved to ob- 
 serve this behaviour in a Christian; and to find 
 that a man, in the most enlightened kingdom of 
 the earth, should think so avariciously of riches
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 11 
 
 and show so little respect to his benefactor and 
 brother. But I hastened to relieve his disquietude, 
 as it is my maxim to make every one as happy as 
 lean, leaving justice and judgment to the eternal 
 Alia. 
 
 ' Though my master has been thus indulgent, 
 sir,' said I, 'yet I did not think it decent in me to 
 reward myself so amply as his partial fondness 
 might fancy I deserved; and therefore I have only 
 taken one-tenth part, and the rest I am ready to 
 deliver up to you.' 
 
 Mr. Edward Wimbleton was pleased at my 
 answer. — ' Modesty and decency,' said he, ' are the 
 most useful attendants on those who were born to 
 serve; and I commend your fidelity to my brother, 
 in not presuming to take that, which sickness 
 only, and an impaired judgment, misht influence 
 him to lavish and squander away. He always was 
 too generous, — he hurt his fortune here in England 
 formerly by the same vice, and much good counsel 
 have I given him ere now on that topic, when he 
 wanted to persuade me to lend him money, to 
 make up his broken affairs ; but 1 rather advised 
 him to seek his fortune out of the kingdom ; and 
 if I had supplied him here, he never had gone to 
 Aleppo, or been the man he was when he died.' — 
 He then commended my fidelity to my master, and 
 commanded me to wait upon him the next morn- 
 ing. This I did, and took with me the will of the 
 deceased, wherein my legacy was specified ; and I 
 found it not useless to me. 
 
 Mr. Edward Wimbleton, when he saw me in the 
 morning, abused me much ; calling me many 
 names, which were a reflection on my country, and 
 my religion. These I submitted to patiently, con- 
 sidering how often the Christians are abused and 
 stigmatised by the followers of Mahomet. But
 
 12 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 his threat3 were succeeded by more alarming 
 severities : for, opening his counting-house door, 
 he beckoned to some ruffians, who called them- 
 selves officers of justice ; and commanded them to 
 seize me, and carry me to prison, as a debtor to 
 him. I insisted that I owed no man any thing. 
 To this, my master's brother answered, that ' I 
 had cajoled him with a false story of my honesty 
 and moderation, and, under pretence of not taking 
 a quarter of his brother's fortune which was left 
 me, I had taken a tenth part, when in reality none 
 was left me.' 
 
 To this I answered, 'that I could produce my 
 master's will, which was poperly attested; and 
 that I had a friend in London, a gentleman who 
 had been long resident in Aleppo, who had 
 cautioned me to be watchful of his dealings ; that, 
 if the officers had the power of the law, they might 
 use it ; but if not my friend would inform against 
 Mr. VVimbletou, if he did not meet me on the 
 Exchange by two o'clock.' 
 
 At this instant we heard a violent knocking at 
 the door; at which Mr. Wimbleton turned pale ; 
 and the officers, if such they were, looked aghast. 
 1 took advantage of their consternation, and 
 hurried out of the counting-house to the street- 
 door, and saw my dear friend, with several gentle- 
 men behind him. 
 
 'Sir,' said I, 'you are come in time to save me 
 from the designs of several ill-looking men. Mr. 
 Wimbleton charges me with imposition ; but I 
 have in my pocket the will of my master.' 
 
 ' Where is Mr. Wimbleton V said my friend ; ' is 
 there no servant in the house V and he knocked 
 again. 
 
 ' This sir,' said I, ' is the counting-house,' (point- 
 ing to the door ;) 'I left him in it with several
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 13 
 
 men, whom he called officers of justice.' — Myfrleud 
 then rapped at the door of the counting-house, and 
 was told from within, that Mr. Wimbleton saw no 
 company, nor did any business that day. * Well,' 
 answered ray friend, ' I am not much concerned 
 about that, as I have rescued a poor stranger from 
 destruction.' 
 
 We quitted the house of my master's brother, 
 and my friend carried me to the 'Change, and de- 
 clared to every one the usage I had met with, and 
 the right I had to insist on a quarter of my 
 master's effects. But how was I surprised to find, 
 that my behaviour, so far from being applauded, 
 was laughed at by every one ! ' It is a pity he 
 should have any,' said one, 'since he knows no 
 better how to make use of it.' — ' I should suspect,' 
 said another, ' that he really had no right to any : 
 for, what man upon earth, who might have had a 
 quarter, would be satisfied with a tenth V In short, 
 every one asked to see the will ; which being read, 
 cleared all doubt and dispute. 
 
 But now a different clamour arose, and my friend, 
 and all that were present, advised me to prosecute 
 Mr. Wimbleton for my whole legacy. 
 
 * Gentlemen,' said I, ' I never wished for more 
 than I have : every man ought to set bounds to 
 his desires ; mine are, I bless Heaven, amply in- 
 dulged ; to have more than enough is needless, is 
 burthensome ; too much rain does not nourish, but 
 causes the fruits of the earth to rot and decay. 
 There is a wind which filleth the sails of the mil!, 
 and there is a wind which destroyeth byover-mucli 
 power.' * The man,' said they all, 'is beside him- 
 self; he has fooled away his wealth ; he knows 
 not the value of riches.' 
 
 ' Beside,' continued I, ' gentlemen, I cannot ac- 
 cept of such obligations as are unreasonable : the
 
 14 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 bounty of my master bore no proportiou to my 
 merit: though his munificence ■was great, yet it 
 ehould not destroy the humility of my own 
 thoughts ; but exchisi ve of all these considerations, 
 I have already given up the remainder to my 
 master's brother ; I have resigned all pretensions 
 to that which I never thought I merited or de- 
 served.' 
 
 'That, indeed,' said they, 'is bad : but did you 
 sign any such release 1 did you sign it before wit- 
 nesses? has Mr. Wimbleton any proof to bring 
 against you? If it was only between yourselves, 
 the law will take no notice of his evidence, and 
 you may proceed safely against him.' 
 
 * Mr. Wimbleton's proofs,' said I, ' are of little 
 consequence to me ; I bear within myself a witness 
 and record of all my actions; one that will not 
 acqidt me, though the judgment of princes should 
 pronounce me guiltless.' 
 
 ' This poor man,' said they, 'has a comical way 
 of talking and tldnking; but I believe we may 
 venture to pronounce, that he will never rise in the 
 world.' — After this, most of them left me: and 
 one of the few that staid, said : — 
 
 ' Stranger, I admire your notions, your con- 
 tentment, and your modesty; but give me leave 
 to say, you are neglecting the public welfare, while 
 you endeavour to provide only for your own private 
 advantage. To biing an infamous man to justice, 
 is a debt you owe to the public ; and what you 
 recover fioin him, you may reasonably lay out in 
 some public service. This is the great law of 
 society ; and to do good to multitudes is far pre- 
 ferable to the private satisfaction of eating or 
 drinking to ourselves alone.' 
 
 ' Sir,' answered I, 'your notions also are right : 
 but, in the present case, what opportunity Lave I
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 15 
 
 of bringing an offender to justice, unless I demand 
 from him wliat I have already freely delivered up 
 to him? Tiie public surely cannot require the 
 sacrifice of ray conscience, nor can public justice 
 be exalted through private vices.' 
 
 ' Sir,' said he, ' I shall say no more than this : 
 the law has befriended you in your present case, 
 Mr. Wimbleton is in your power, and you are to 
 blame if you let him escape; nay, let me tell you, 
 the world has reason to expect this from you ; and 
 he who hides an offender from justice, is little 
 bettor than the "knave who commits the offence.' 
 
 At this they all left me, and a new set of gazers 
 succeeded, whom I avoided as soon as possible, by 
 leaving the place; and, having returned to my 
 lodgings, I began to reflect on tlie scene that was 
 passed. 
 
 'The refinements of Europe,' said I, 'are too 
 subtle for the gross understandings of an Asiatic; 
 and I was mistaken, when I tliouglit that virtue 
 had the same outlines in every community. Tiaffic 
 is the prophet of the Euro])eans, and wealth is 
 their Alia. I will, however, remain among them, 
 till I have learned their sciences, whose roots first 
 grew in Asia, but whose fruit is with these sons of 
 care. 
 
 With this resolution, I applied myself to thecul- 
 tivation of those sciences which are so justly ad- 
 mired in the East. I studied the power of figures, 
 and found my mind enlightened by the application 
 of a few magical Arabic characters : with nine 
 figures I was taught to measure the great parent of 
 day, and to calculate the distance of the stars of 
 heaven ; to foretel the baneful eclipses of the sun 
 and moon, and to pr(jj)he«y unto kingdoms and 
 nations tlie loss of the light of heaven : by these 
 talismans of science could I measure the inaccea-
 
 16 THE LIFE OP HORAAT. 
 
 sible heights of the mountains, and the wide sur- 
 face of the deep, and threaten the earth with the 
 portentous appearance of terrifying comets. Think 
 not, therefore, O Morell, that I spared either trouble 
 or time to arrive at the depths of mathematical 
 knowledge. I adored that bright constellation of 
 the North, the heaven-taught Newton, with whom 
 I often held such converse as the inhabitants of the 
 East are said to hold with the Genii of mankind." 
 I saw him bring down the moon from the realms 
 of night, to influence and actuate the tides of the 
 sea, and heard him read in his books the laws of 
 the tumultuous ocean; he marked the courses of 
 the stars with his wand, and reduced eccentric 
 orbs to the obedience of his system. He caught 
 the swift-flying light, and divided its rays; he 
 marshalled the emanations of the sun under their 
 difierent-coloured banners, and gave symmetry and 
 order to the glare of dayj he explained the dark 
 eternal laws of Nature, and seemed acquainted 
 with the dictates of Heaven. 
 
 Such a master overpaid all the toils I had taken 
 in my voyage to England ; and what I could not 
 find ia the public resorts of the merchants, I dis- 
 covered in the closets of the learned. 
 
 It was matter of great surprise and joy to an 
 ignorant and bigoted Asiatic, to be thus let loose 
 from his narrow prejudices into an immeasurable 
 system of planets and worlds delineated ; to look 
 with contempt on the artificial globe, at the Cas- 
 pian Sea, which was once like a boundless prospect 
 before my eyes; and discover, with a motion of my 
 finger, all the kingdoms of the earth exposed to 
 my view. But then, when the wide extent of sea 
 and land had filled my mind, to look on all as a 
 small attendant planet on the sun, and on the sun 
 itself as but one among a thousand stars, of equal,
 
 THE LIFE OF HOKAAI. 17 
 
 if not superior magnitude ; my whole soul was 
 lost in the long, long-extended idea ; and I seemed 
 but as an invisible atom amidst ten thousand 
 worlds ! 
 
 Nor did my researches end here: I attended my 
 friend to Cambridge, and examined with him the 
 systems of the natural philosophers. I was pleased 
 to see facts preferred to hypothesis, and Nature 
 djctating heroun laws. I traced with admiration 
 the principles of mechanism, and saw the regular 
 scale of multiplied power by which Archimedes 
 would have moved the earth. The secrets, too, of 
 chemistry were laid open before me ; inert matter 
 was engaged in warlike commotion, and fire was 
 brought down from heaven to entertain me But 
 it was not amusement without instruction, nor tl;e 
 cause of admiration unfruitful in knowledge ; I 
 heard the reasonings of the philosophers on these 
 subjects, and considered their conclusions ; and I 
 often smiled to see opposite opinions arising from, 
 and supported by, the same experiments. This 
 taught me at once the beauty of nature, and the 
 folly of man. I found ignorance growing on 
 knowledge, and that the mazes of learning were 
 leading me to their original entrance. I arrived at 
 the same place of uncertainty whence 1 set out, 
 with this difference, I was assured of human igno- 
 rance, while otliers were preparing to be deceived 
 by a show of learning I left this seat of know- 
 ledge, pursaing their circle of studies; concluding 
 from what I had seen, that science is no further 
 useful, than as it conduces to the improvement of 
 life ; and that to know, and not to practise, is like 
 him who is busy in the seed-time, and idle in the 
 harvest. 
 
 Having joined a knowledge of physic and his- 
 tory to the sciences I was before master of, I beguu 
 c
 
 18 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 to pant after my native land, where the; ..as a 
 wide field open to display my knowledge. But 
 war, which is the bane of science, prevented my 
 journey to Aleppo. The regions of Asia being 
 barred from my approach in the Mediterranean, 
 were yet open in the East Indies : a fleet being 
 destined for those parts, I entered as a passenger in 
 one of the Company's ships, and arrived, after a 
 tedious passage, in the Bay of Bengal. 
 
 In the progress of my voyage my intellectual 
 knowledge was confirmed, and I was pleased to 
 add experience to science. The wonders of the 
 deep are not less magnificent than the rude and 
 enchanting scenery of the majestic mountains ; 
 and waves are hurled on waves by contending 
 storms, till mimic Alps appear equal in horror to 
 the true : but he who is certain that his life is 
 never a moment in his own power, will be as calm 
 in the tempest as when he runs before the breeze. 
 It is of little consequence, whether the worm or 
 the loud thunder destroy us ; whether the earth 
 open and swallow up a nation, or whether that 
 people go down to their graves, the single victims 
 of death. 
 
 I resided some time in Bengal, before I could 
 find any opportunity of proceeding to the ^Mogul's 
 court, where I had resolved to seek for preferment. 
 The monarchs of the East arc fond of the European 
 sciences ; they in some measure tolerate the religion 
 of the Jesuits, that they may be benefited by the 
 ingenious labours of that insinuating society; but 
 they are no friends to the Christian faith, and the 
 missionary who was to depend on his religion 
 only, would soon fall a sacrifice to either the Mo- 
 hammedan doctors or the Indian Bramins. But 
 at present, religion is the pretended motive of the 
 Jesuits' travels into India, though perhaps they are
 
 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 19 
 
 as little zealous to propagate the true doctrines of 
 Christianity, as those they serve are to believe 
 them. They are good mathematicians, but bad 
 saints, unless where they expect some temporal 
 advantage from the propagation of their fuith. 
 
 Nothing, therefore, but their useful knowledge, 
 could prevail upon the Eastern monarchs to caress 
 a society whom all Asia despises. The machina- 
 tions of these fathers, though carried on by art, are 
 yet betrayed by the proud spirit of those who con- 
 duct them, and their fate is determined whenever 
 the Asiatics shall have learned their sciences. 
 These reflections induced me to study the European 
 arts, and I made no doubt but that my presence 
 would be acceptable at tlie court of the Great 
 Mogul. My surmises were not unjust, I made 
 myself known to the nabobs and viziers of the 
 court, and being provided with an entire set of the 
 best mathematical instruments, and a portable 
 apparatus in philosophy, T was heard with pleasure, 
 and attended to with admiration; my fame soon 
 reached the Mogul's ears, and that mighty monarch 
 ordered the wonderful philosopher of the East into 
 his presence. 
 
 My knowledge and experiments soon raised the 
 suspicion of the Mogul, and he fancied that I was a 
 Jesuit disguised. Ten learned Mohammedan doc- 
 tors were ordered to examine me. I went through 
 my ablutions and purifications, and the hidden 
 ceremonies of the religion of our prophet. I ex- 
 plained to them my birth and manner of life, and 
 told them under whose instructions I had imbibed 
 the precepts of the faithful, I painted to them 
 the days of my slavery, and my education in 
 Britain, the land of science. I declared to them, 
 finally, my desire of implanting in Asia the seeds 
 of that learning which I had gathered in Europe,
 
 20 THE LIFE OF HORAM. 
 
 and besought tlieir assistance to cultivate and ripen 
 the great design. 
 
 My brethren were amazed at my discourse, and 
 rejoiced at my success : they hastened to discover 
 my intentions to the Mogul, and to assure him of 
 my uprightness and truth. That powerful monarch 
 was enraptured nt my design, and immediately or- 
 dered me a building in his palace. He daily sent 
 for me to exhibit the amazing effects of my art, 
 and employed me in mathematical and astro- 
 nomical labours. 
 
 Being returned to my own religion, I begged 
 leave again to officiate as an iman of our law. I 
 preached to the people at my leisure, and readin 
 the book of our Propiiet before them. Alia ])ros- 
 percd my labouis, and my fame was extended 
 over Asia. Itesp ect and honour were on my right 
 hand, and my left was as the handmaid of science. 
 Aurengzebe, the great conqueror of the earth, was 
 my friend, and he placed the Sultan Osmir, his 
 son, under my tuition. Osmir was but five years 
 old when the Mogul entrusted him to me. 
 
 'Let virtue be the basis of knowledge, and let 
 knowledge be as a slave before her.' Such were 
 the words of Aurengzebe. I heard, and fell pros- 
 trate, and applied myself to the instruction of my 
 infunt charge. 
 
 .^nd now it was, O Morell,that I conceived the 
 purpose of disguising the true doctrine of morality 
 under the delightful allegories of romantic enchant- 
 ment. Mine eye had seen the great varieties of 
 nature and the powers of my fancy could lecall and 
 realise tl;e images. I was ])leascd with mine own 
 inventions, and hoped to find that virtue would 
 ptpal into the breast, amidst the flowers of language 
 snd description. 
 
 My lessons, though designed only for the young
 
 THE LIFE OP HORAM. 21 
 
 prince, were read and admired by the whole court* 
 Osmir alone was disjileased at them; his mind 
 was not disposed to attention : he cursed the hours 
 of his confinement ; he read without benefit ; he 
 admired vice in all its deformity, and despised the 
 lessons of virtue and goodness; or, if they made a 
 slight impresssion on him, it was but for a moment, 
 and vice had its usual ascendancy. 
 
 Aurengzebe perceived the haughtiness and the 
 vicious f)rinciples of his son, and he made no doubt 
 but til at he would soon aspire to his throne. This 
 made the prudent monarch resolve to take all 
 power from him. Osmir was confined by order of 
 the Mogul, and but a few chosen attendants suf- 
 fered to see him. 
 
 The malicious prince, finding himself curbed by 
 the authority of his fatlier, and supposing me to 
 be the cause of his confinement, accused me to his 
 attendants of advising liim to seize on the throne 
 of India. The pretended confession was carried 
 to the Mogul, and ignominious chains thrown over 
 me. The sultans and the nabobs were all pleased 
 at my fate. I wondered not at the fickleness of 
 the courtiers, but was astonished at the malice of 
 Osmir. 
 
 In a few days I was drawn out of a dungeon, 
 whither I hud been ordererl, and brought before 
 Aurengzebe. That monarch had assumed the im- 
 perial frown, but I saw th^ beams of mercy in his 
 eye. He ordered the chains to be taken oflT, and 
 commanded the slaves and courtiers to withdraw. 
 When we were alone, I prostrated myself before 
 him, and remained on the earth. 
 
 * Rise, O Horam,' said Aurengzebe ; ' rise, thou 
 faithful servant ; I do not believe the accusations 
 against thee. Declare thine own innocence, and I 
 shall be persuaded of the truth.'
 
 22 THE LIFE OP HORAM. 
 
 'Rather,' said I, 'O master of the world, let 
 Horam thy slave perish, than that the truth of 
 Osmir thy son be questioned. Yes, I do confess, 1 
 have often counselled the prince to aspire to tlie 
 virtues of truth, wisdom, justice, and moderation, 
 the great ornaments of thy throne ; and I think 
 my life should pay the forfeit of my presumption — 
 Ill-fated Horam,' continued I, bursting hito tears, 
 for my heart was overcharged, * how are thy en- 
 deavours frustrated, and how is the fruit of thy 
 labour blasted !' 
 
 * Blasted, indeed, thou good old man !' said 
 Aurengzebe : ' for I must either accuse my first- 
 born of the utmost meanness, or my faithful slave 
 of rebellion. There is one way left tome. Depart 
 from the court, Horam ; thou shalt have yearly a 
 thousand sequins of gold. But on thy faith declare 
 to me, that thou wilt never leave my empire ; I 
 cannot myself employ thee ; and yet, O Horam, 
 I cannot lose thee.' 
 
 I fell again prostrate at the feet of Aurensrzebe : 
 I thanked the merciful prince for his continued 
 goodness ; and I prayed aloud to the great Alia to 
 change the heart of the ill fated Osmir. 
 
 Aurengzebe gave me a ring from his finger, and 
 bade me depart silently in the night to the utmost 
 confines of his empire. 
 
 I obeyed with cheerfulness; and by the assist- 
 ance of a nabob, who was my friend, and whom 
 Aurengzebe had ordered to take care of me, I tra- 
 velled to the mouth of the Ganges, and from 
 thence, by sea, to this settlement of your country- 
 men ; where I have bought up every copy of my 
 unavailing instructions that I could meet with, and 
 have committed them to the flames to be devoured 
 by the god of the Pagans !
 
 TALES OF THE GENII. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Patna and Coulor, the children of Giualar, the 
 Iman of Turki, were the pride of their parents, 
 and the wonder of the inhabitants of Mazanderan. 
 Their aged father took them daily into a grove of 
 oranges and citrons, which surrounded a fountain 
 in his garden, and seating them under the shadow 
 of those fragrant trees, beside the pure basin, after 
 he had first dipped them in its waters, to wash 
 away the bad impressions of the world, he thus 
 began his instructive lesson : — 
 
 ' Hearken, ye tender branches, to your parent 
 stock : bend to the lessons of instruction, and im- 
 bibe the maxims of age and experience ! As the pis- 
 mire creeps not to its labour till led by its elders ; 
 as the young eagle soars not to the sun, but under 
 the shadow of its mother's wing; so neither doth 
 the child of mortality spring forth to action, unless 
 the parent hand point out its destined labour. 
 
 ' But no labour shall the hand of Giualar appoint 
 unto Patna and Coulor, except the worship of 
 Alia, the first of beings, and of Mahomet, the great 
 prophet of the faithful. 
 
 ' Base are the desires of the flesh, and mean the 
 pursuits of the sons of the earth ! they stretch out 
 their sinews like the patient mule, they persevere in 
 their chase after trifles, as the camel in the desert. 
 As the leopard springs on his prey, so doth man 
 rejoice over his riches, and bask in the sun of 
 ^lothfulnesslike the lion's cub. 
 
 ' On the stream of life float the bodies of the
 
 V4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 careless and iutomperate, as the carcases of the 
 tletifl on the waves of tlie Tiiiiis. 
 
 * Th;» vultures of the sky destroy the carcass, 
 nnd man is devoured by the sins of liis flesh. 
 
 ' Retire from men, my chiklren, like the pelican 
 in the wilderness, and fly with the wild ass's c t 
 into the deserts of peace.' 
 
 As Giualar uttered these words, he perceived an 
 unusual fragrance issue from a larj^e citron-tree, 
 wliich was planted opposite the teuder parent and 
 his attentive children, which in a moment dropping 
 its leaves, the trunk swelled into human proportion, 
 and discovered to their view a bright female form. 
 
 ' Giualar,' said the Genius, ' I approve your care, 
 and am pleased to see your little progeny thus 
 instructed from the mouth of their parent. A father 
 is blessed in the wisdom of his children, and the 
 tongue of a fool shall pierce the heart of his 
 mother. But why is Giualar so careful to prevent 
 his off^prinsc from entering into life 1 Alia has made 
 them tlie children of the world, and their labour is 
 a debt which they must not refuse their fellow- 
 citizens. To drive them into the desert would be 
 indeed to make them the companions of savages 
 and brutes, but the wise purposes of Alia must not 
 be prevented. No man is master of himself, but 
 the public is lord over him ; and to endeavour to 
 defeat the purposes of Heaven is madness and folly. 
 Rightly does Giualar caution his children to avoid 
 the follies and vices of life, but they must be subject 
 to temptations ere their worth be approved. Suffer 
 me therefore, good Iman, to carry your children 
 where thev shall hear the lessons of humanity from 
 the lips of our immortal race, and where they shall 
 learn from the failings or virtues of others, to guide 
 their steps aright through the valleys of life.' 
 Giualar was transported at the offer of the Ge-
 
 INTRODUCTION. *JO 
 
 iiius, and. falling down before her, wag about to 
 offer her his ])rayers and praises . but she raising 
 him up, ' O Iman,' said slie, ' pay thy vows to 
 Alia alone, and not to the beings which, however 
 thy superior;;, are yet tlie work of his hands. The 
 moon is now between us and the eye of day; ere 
 it surround the inhabitants of earth, Patna and 
 Coulor shall return unto their parents ; rejoice at 
 the favour shown unto thy race, and rest in peace 
 till a new moon bring them back into thine arms.' 
 So saying, she embraced the young Patna and 
 Coulor, and, leaping into the fountain, disappeared 
 with her prize. 
 
 In a few moments the children of Giualar found 
 themselves on a wide extended plain, which was 
 terminated at one end by a noble palace. Moang, 
 the Genius who led them, bade them observe that 
 building. ' It is there,' said tlie kind female, ' that 
 Patna and Coulor must learn to know good fiom 
 evil, light from darkness. But one thing observe, 
 my children, that silence be upon your lips ; hear, 
 and see, and learn, but offer not to mingle speech 
 with the Genii of mankind.' 
 
 As soon as they arrived at the palace, JMoang 
 led her little charge into a spacious saloon, where, 
 on twenty-eight thrones of gold, sat the good race 
 of Genii ; and beneath, on carpets covering the 
 whole saloon, were numberless of the lower class 
 ofCJenii, each with two or more of the faithful 
 under their charge, who were permitted to hear 
 the instructive lessons of that useful race. 
 
 Iracagem, whose throne and canopy was more 
 exalted than the rest, first began. 
 
 * O race of immortals,' said the silver-bearded 
 sage, * to whose care and protection the offspring 
 of clay are committed, say, what hath been the 
 Buccess of your labours ; what vices have you
 
 2G THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES. 
 
 punished ; what virtues rewarded; what false lidits 
 have you extinguished ? Helpless race of mortals! 
 but for our protection, how vain would be your 
 toils, how endless your researches ! — Say, virtuous 
 companion,' said he to the Genius that was seated 
 nearest him, * let us hear what have been the 
 effects of thy tutelary care ?' 
 
 At these words, the Genius arose from his throne, 
 and, standing before it with a decent awe, thus 
 began his pleasing adventure : 
 
 ' At your command, O sage Iracagem, my voice 
 shall not remain in silence : small as my abilities 
 are in the preservation of the human race, yet have 
 I endeavoured to act according to the precepts of 
 our master IVIahomet ; and the success that has at- 
 tended my labours may be in some measure known 
 from the History of tlie Merchant Abudah.' 
 
 TALE I. 
 
 The Talisman of Oromanes ; or, the History of 
 
 the Merchant Abudah. 
 
 Tn the centre of the quay of Bagdat, where the 
 wealth of the whole earth is poured forth for the 
 benefit of the faithful, lived the fortunate Abudah, 
 possessed of the merchandize and riches of many 
 various nations, caressed by the mighty, and blessed 
 by the indigent ; daily providing for thousands by 
 his munificence, and wiiming daily the hearts of 
 thousands by his charity and generosity. But how- 
 ever magnificently or royally the days of Abudah 
 might be s})ent, his nights were the nights of dis- 
 turbance and aflSiction. His wife, who was fairer 
 than the greatest beauties of Circassia; his children, 
 who were lovelier than the offspring of the Faries, 
 and his riches, which were greater than the desire?
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 27 
 
 of man could consume ; were unavallinof to drive 
 from his imagination the terrors of the night : For 
 no sooner was the Merchant retired within the wall 
 of his chamber, than a little box, which no art 
 might remove from its place, advanced without 
 help into the centre of the chamber, and, opening, 
 discovered to his sight the form of a diminutive old 
 hag, who, with crutches, hopped forward to Abu- 
 dah, and every night addressed him in the follow- 
 ing terms : — ' O Abudah, to whom Mahomet hath 
 given such a profusion of blessings, why delayest 
 thou to search out the talisman of Oromanes ? the 
 which, whoever possesseth, shall know neithor 
 uneasiness nor discontent ; neither may he be 
 assaulted by the tricks of fortune, or the power of 
 man. Till you are possessed of that valuable trea- 
 sure, Abudah, my presence shall nightly remind 
 you of your idleness, and my chest remain for ever 
 in the chambers of your repose.' 
 
 Having thus said, the hag retired into her box, 
 shaking her crutches, and, with an hideous yell, 
 closed herself in, and left the unfortunate Merchant 
 on a bed of doubt and anxiety for the rest of the 
 night. 
 
 Thisunwelcome visitant still repeatingher threats, 
 rendered the life of Abudah most miserable and 
 fatiguing : neither durst he tell his grievance, lest 
 the strangeness of the adventure should rather 
 move the laughter than the compassion of his 
 friends. At length, however, wearied out with the 
 strange and importunate demands of this nightly 
 hag, he ventured to open his mind ; and, in the 
 midst of his friends, asked publicly, as he was 
 feasting in his saloon, who could give any account 
 of the talisman of Oromanes, or the place where it 
 was preserved ? To this question his friends could 
 return him no satisfactory answer ; they had all in-
 
 -:6 THE TALISMAN OF OROMAXES; 
 
 deed lieard of its virtues, but despaired of finding 
 it: so that Abudah was forced to return again to 
 the upbraiding of his nocturnal hag, and knew not 
 what course to steer in pursuit of the appointed 
 treasure. 
 
 The next day, he caused it to be cried publicly in 
 the streets of Bagdat, ' that Abudah the Merchant 
 would give much riches to the man who could in- 
 form him where the talisman of Oromanes was 
 lodged.' This declaration was made for many days 
 successively : but no one appeared to satisfy the 
 inquiries of the impatier'' Abudah. 
 
 After many days, a poor tr?,eller, who had been 
 spoiled of his goods by the Arabians, passing 
 through Bagdat, heard the publication, and imme- 
 diately ofFured to co before Abudah, and make 
 known the place where the talisman of Oromanes 
 was preserved. The friends of the wealthy Mer- 
 chant joyfully carried the poor traveller to the pa- 
 lace of Abudah, and with great tumult introduced 
 him to the Merchant, who was sitting on a low sofa, 
 and seemed entirely indifferent to the music which 
 played before him, the dessert of elegancies which 
 was prepared for his food, and the caresses of his 
 wife and children, who endeavoured, by their ten- 
 derness and affection, to divert the gloom that 
 overshadowed him. 
 
 ' Abudah,' cried his friends (liftinii up their 
 voices together), ' behold the discoverer of the 
 talisman of Oromanes!' 
 
 At their voices, the afflicted Merchant looked 
 up, like one awakened from a dream. 
 
 ' This,' said his friends, presenting the poor 
 traveller to him, ' this is the man who will engage 
 to point out to you the talisman of Oromanes,' 
 
 The traveller was now about to begin his re- 
 lation, when Abudah, having eyed him round,
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 29 
 
 commanded the apartment to be cleared, that no 
 one but himself might enjoy the discovery.. His 
 family and friends obediently departed; and the 
 traveller, being left alone with the Merchant, thus 
 beg:an his tale : 
 
 ' Your fortune and attendance, O wealthy citizen 
 of Bagdiit, allow of your search after the talisman 
 of Oromanes ; but to the poor and needy, to the 
 outcasts of fortune, no such happiness is permitted : 
 they may indeed wonder and examine, but the 
 talisman is for ever shut up from their search ; for 
 infinite are the expenses which attend the dis- 
 covery, and large the rewards which must be given 
 to them who help the inquirer forward in his 
 adventure atter the sacred talisman. 
 
 * But, my friend,' said Abudah, ' you neglect to 
 inform me where I may find or purchase this 
 heavenly talisman.' 
 
 ' It is lodged,' replied the poor traveller, ' in the 
 Valley of Bucchim: princes are its guardians, and 
 it is treasured up amidst all the riches of the earth; 
 you cannot obtain admittance there, unless you go 
 loaded with every variety that is costly and expen- 
 sive ; which you must present to the Genii, who 
 keep a watch over this earthly paradise of riches; 
 and if your present be not sufficiently costly, your 
 labour is lost.' 
 
 • If so,' continued Abudah, overjoyed at the poor 
 traveller's declaration, ' direct me instantly to the 
 
 I entrance of the Valley.' 
 
 \ • Alas, sir,' answered the traveller, * it is in the 
 1 Deserts of Arabia, seventeen days journey hence : 
 besides, your pre-ents are not ready, nor your 
 guard, lest the Arabs spoil you of your riches, and 
 prevent your application at the entrance of the 
 Valley of Bocchim : but if you svill permit your 
 servant to direct you in the choice of the presents,
 
 80 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 some of which will take much time in preparing, 
 by the next spring you may set forward, and 
 speedily find an issue to your journey.' 
 
 Abudah acquiesced in the aiguments of the 
 traveller; and, having given orders that he should 
 use as he pleased his immense riches, he gave 
 himself entirely up to the meditation of the in- 
 tended journey. 
 
 The Merchant Abudah's Adventure in the Valley 
 of Bocchbn. 
 
 On the ninth day of the third month, ere the sun 
 was risen on the mosques of Bagdat, w-as the sump- 
 tuous caravan drawn up in that city. 
 
 Five hundred archers, mounted on the fleetest 
 coursers, led the van ; behind whom were twelve 
 thousand oxen, thirty thousand sheep, and two 
 hundred of the finest horses of Arabia. Next to 
 these, came six hundred men armed with pole-axes 
 and scimetars, with silken banners, displaying the 
 blessing of Pasturage, and the utility and con- 
 ■veniency of Cattle for the service of man. — After 
 these were driven two hundred camels, laden with 
 all manner of dried and preserved fruits ; a thou- 
 sand more with all sorts of grain ; a thousand wit; 
 the richest wines; and five hundred with the mosL 
 pure oil ; five hundred more with spices and per- 
 fumes; and behind these, a thousand armed hus- 
 bandmen , singing the Blessings of the Earth , burning 
 in censers the mo«t costly perfumes, and bearing 
 flaxen and silken banners, representing the Seasons 
 and annual Labours of Husbandry. — These were of 
 the first day's procession. 
 
 The second day's cavalcade began with five 
 hundred miners armed with sledges and hammer?, 
 whom a large car followed, drawn by twenty strong 
 oxen, having withm it all the implements of iron ; 
 and above, in the upper part, an hero, who com-
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 31 
 
 roanded the armed men iu the whole procession. 
 Then came five hundred artificers ; and after them, 
 a car drawn by twenty mules with the implements 
 of lead, and a curious artisan on the top of the car, 
 singing the Uses of Metals. Behind these, came 
 five hundred more artificers, with their different 
 tools, and a car drawn by twenty horses with 
 cast figures, statues, and implements of brass, and 
 a cunning artificer on the top of the car. After 
 these followed a thousand artificers in silver, and 
 a sumptuous car of solid silver, drawn by fifty 
 unicorns, and laden with plate and silver coin ; also 
 an hundred camels behind, laden also with silver ; 
 and on the car sat the steward of Abudah. At a 
 small distance from these came forward a thousand 
 armed cap-a-pie, afterthemannerof Saracens ; and 
 behind these followed, on sumptuous mules, five 
 hundred of the principal foreign merchants, richly 
 habited, with the emblems of Commerce curiously 
 wrought in their garments, who were followed by 
 an enormous car, drawn by four elephants, ladeu 
 with golden emblems and devices, with great quan- 
 tities of that precious metal : the car also was of 
 beaten gold. Into this, taking leave of Abudah, 
 ascended the poor traveller, arrayed in purple and 
 gold, and pointing, with a gold rod, toward the 
 Valley of Bocchim. — And these completed the 
 second day's procession. 
 
 On the third day issued forth from the gates of 
 Bagdat, the final procession of the caravan of the 
 Merchant Abudah. — A thousand archers began the 
 ceremony, preceded by a martial band of music, 
 and bearinganiongtheir ranks fifty sllkenstreamers 
 interwoven with gold and having the emblems of 
 Abudah's family wrought in their centres. Xext to 
 these, came fifty car.ritiges, laden with the richest 
 silks and brocades, and two hundred surrounded
 
 32 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANESJ 
 
 the carriages, arrayed in the different habits of two 
 hundred nations ; after whom came fifty negroes on 
 dromedaries, bearing about their necks strings of 
 the most costly pearl. After these, a thousand 
 armed soldiers, after the European manner, who, 
 at a small distance, were followed by an hundred 
 mutes, behind whom came, in two hundred palan- 
 quins, as many beautiful slaves from Circassia, 
 each guarded by four eunuchs, and clad in the 
 richest robes. 
 
 The next in procession was the Merchant Abu- 
 dah, drawn in a chariotof pearl, of the mostcurious 
 workmanship, by ten milk-white steeds, whose 
 trappings were of gold. As to the garments of the 
 Merchant, nothing couM be conceived more mag- 
 nificent ; but the splendour of the jewels that were 
 interwoven with the clothing exceeded the most 
 lavish description : on each side tlie chariot an 
 hundred musicians attended, and fifty slaves burn- 
 ing the choicest perfumes J various splendid banners 
 •waved around him, and two hundred friends be- 
 hind, of the highest rank in the city of Bagdat, 
 attended the illustrious and wealthyjAbudah ; after 
 ■whom a thousand archers, and numberless camels, 
 laden with all manner of provision, water, and wine, 
 brought up the rear of this magnificent cavalcade. 
 
 On the thirteenth day they halted in a plain, 
 bounded on the side with lofty mountains, and, at 
 the farther end, with a deep forest of cedars and 
 palms. Here the poor traveller, descending with 
 Abudah, walked forward toward the forest before 
 them. 
 
 The traveller led Abudah into the forest through 
 thickets, almost impervious, save the blind path 
 vhich guided them forward. In this manner they 
 passed till the evening; when the traveller, entering 
 a cave, disappeared from the wondering Abudah.
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABDDAH. 33 
 
 The Merchant essayed to follow him, but looking- 
 into the cave, it seemed to have no bottom, there- 
 fore he was obliged to desist. 
 
 The sun was now sinking from the mountains, 
 and the glowing skies seemed to tip the woods witli 
 their reddening light. Abudah, being fatigued, 
 first sought out a tree, and, climbing into it, 
 resolved there to await the dawn of the morning : 
 but the severe fatigues had so much exhausted 
 him, that, although he had resolved to watch till 
 the morning, yet sleep soon overpowered him, and 
 made him forget either the wonders or the dangers 
 that surrounded him. 
 
 Abudah, in the morning, when he awakened, 
 was surprised at an unusual glitter about him ; and, 
 looking more stedfastly, he found the tree on 
 which he sat to be of pure gold, and the leaves of 
 silver, with fruit like rubies hanging in clusters on 
 the branches. Looking around, he also beheld the 
 face of the country as though it had been changed : 
 for on every side appeared the most glorious palaces 
 that eye could conceive, glittering with gold, silver, 
 and precious stones ; so that the whole appeared 
 more like a heavenly than unearthly situation. 
 
 Descending full of wonder from the tree, he 
 found the ground he trod on to be gold dust, and 
 the stones pearls ; these were covered with flowers 
 which seemed ibrmed of vegetable crystal, emerabis, 
 and amethysts : trees and shrubs of silver and gold 
 met his eye^ growing almost visibly about him. At 
 the farther end of the prospect he beheld a vast and 
 expanded dome, which seemed to cover a whole 
 plain, and rose to the clouds. This dome shone so 
 brightly by the reflection of the costly materials of 
 which it was composed, that he could hardly look 
 toward it. However, as it seemed most to attraar 
 liis attention, he advanced up to the door. 
 
 D
 
 34 THE TALISMAN OF OKUMANES ; 
 
 The dome, which was of entire gold, stood upon 
 three hundred pillars of precious stones ; one eme- 
 rald formed the shaft of one pillar, one diamond 
 the capital, and one ruby the pedestal : the inter- 
 mediate spaces between the pillars were of crystal, 
 one piece between eacli pillar ; so that the inside of 
 the dome was visible from all parts. The architrave 
 was of solid pearl, inlaid with curious emblems, 
 composed of festoons of amethysts, topazes, car- 
 buncles, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and the most 
 sparkling diamonds. 
 
 Abudah, though the richest of mankind, was 
 struck with iistonishmeut at the profusion of riches 
 and beauty uhich he beheld ; and entering at one 
 of the four portals, (for the dome had four, one to 
 each quarter of the heavens,) he beheld an ancient 
 Form, seated on a throne, which looked too bright 
 to distinguish what glorious materials it was made 
 of. A great number of crowned heads attended on 
 him; and these were supported by inferior beings, 
 all clad in the most superb vestments. Ail around 
 the dome were placed, with great beantv and sym- 
 metry, numberless heaps of wealth and riches ; and 
 the very pavement on which he trod was covered 
 over with tapestry carpet, representing the Riches 
 of the earth, in all their natural colours. 
 
 Abudah, as abashed at this amazwj: magnificence 
 and beholding such personages within the dome, 
 was retiring ; when one of the chief of the attend- 
 ants, who stood nearest the throne, advancing, 
 beckoned Abudah forward. The Merchant obeyed 
 with trembling, and, as he came forward, bowed 
 himself to the ground ; which the royal personage 
 perceiving, who sat on the throne, spake thus to 
 him: 
 
 ' Fear not, Abudah, thou hast ever been a 
 favourite of the Genius of Riches. I am thy
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAII. 35 
 
 friend; and this journey which thou hast under- 
 taken in honour of me, in hopes here to find the 
 talisman of the great Oroinanes, shall not go 
 unrewarded. — And first, lead Abudah,' said he to 
 the genius who had presented the Merchant, 
 * through all my stores, and let him view the riches 
 of the earth : — a sight that so many thousands long 
 ardently to enjoy.' 
 
 The inferior genius obeyed; and, taking Abudah 
 by the hand, he led him toward a royal palace, 
 facing the eastern side of the dome. Here, as 
 Abudah entered the palace, the walls of which were 
 of the purest silver, with windows of crystal, he 
 beheld incredible heaps of that precious metal, all 
 seemingly composed like branches of trees. 
 
 ' What thou seest here,' said the genius, Ms 
 trifling ; for these heaps, which seem to lie on the 
 surface of the ground, really are of the same depth 
 with the centre of the earth : so that of this metal 
 alone there is laid up more in value than all the 
 visible riches of the world.' 
 
 The genius next carried Abudah to a second 
 palace, built of pure gold, having windows like the 
 first. Here, also, Abudah beheld the like profusion 
 of gold, which, like the silver, continued down 
 to the centre. Next he was shown, in a huge 
 building of adamant, a cistern filled with the frag- 
 ments of all manner of precious stones and dia- 
 monds. 
 
 * These also,' said the genius, ' are not ter- 
 minated but by the centre of the earth. — Now,' 
 continued he, ' as you observed in the two first 
 palaces, the silver and gold are the little branches 
 which drop from the trees of this vegetable valley 
 of riches ; for all things on earth are subject to de- 
 crease, which are here carefully collected, (for the 
 ich arc not exempt from toil) and placed in these
 
 36 THE TALISMAN OF OKOMANES; 
 
 repositories, the bottoms of wliich, at the centre of 
 the earth, are grated, and let out sparingly therein 
 smaller fragments ; so likewise of the jewels, which 
 fall like fruit from the trees, and break into little 
 pieces ; these are all thrown together to serve the 
 earth, but none above such a size are admitted, 
 nor indeed could ihey pass through the grating 
 below. Thus these metals and jewels mixing 
 with the earth, and being diffused in its bowels, are 
 at length ^-topped by rocks and stones, and so form 
 mines in different parts of the world, each requiring 
 the industry and labour of man, that they may 
 be brought the more sparingly into the world.' 
 
 Abiidah, having viewed these things, returned; 
 and being presented to the Genius of Riches, — 
 *Now,' said the Genius, ' biing forth the iron chest, 
 wherein, it is said, the talisman of Oromanes is 
 lodged.' 
 
 At the command of the Genius, ten of an inferior 
 order brought in a huge chest with fifty locks upon 
 it ; the chest itself was of iron, and bound round 
 with the strongest bands, which were harder than 
 adamant. — ' There,' said the Genius to Abudah, 
 * there is thy reward : return to Bagdat and live 
 in peace all the days of thy life.' 
 
 ' Must I then,' replied Abudah, ' beneficent Ge- 
 nius, carry with me the chest also ? or is it permit- 
 ted that J take thence the talisman of Oromanes?' 
 
 * Wouldest thou then,' replied the Genius, ' take 
 it from its place of security? Whilst thou dost 
 possess the chest, the talisman is thine own, and the 
 force of man cannot bereave thee of it. Why then 
 should curiosity prevail over security ? It is written 
 in the chronicles of time, that he who possesseth 
 the talisman of Oromanes shall be happy : seek 
 not, therefore, to disentangle the talisman from 
 its preseat state of security^ till it fail thee of its
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUEAH. 37 
 
 promised efficacy. Take however, these fifty keys : 
 but beware, lest thy curiosity alone tempt thee : for 
 what mortal can say if its refulgence be not too 
 much for man to beliold !' 
 
 Having thus said, the Genius commanded Abu- 
 dah to lie down on the chest; and immediately his 
 eyes closed, and not till the morning after did he 
 awake, and find himself in a tent, on the plain 
 where he had left his immense caravan : but now 
 he found only forty camels and forty servants to 
 attend him. 
 
 Abudah inquired of his servants what became of 
 the riches and attendants that had travelled from 
 Bagdat with him to that plain ? but they could give 
 no answer. They said, indeed, that they knew 
 of such caravan, and that they had for some 
 time missed their master from Bagdat; and that 
 although they went overnight to their rest in his 
 house at Bagdat, they found themselves, with the 
 tents, and forty camels laden with provision, on 
 that plain in the morning; and that, coming into 
 his tent, they saw him sleeping upon an iron chest, 
 and had removed him to the sofa. — ' And is the 
 chest here V cried Abudah. — ' Here is, sir,' replied 
 the slave that spoke, ' an iron chest of prodigious 
 size, and secured with many locks.' 
 
 Abudah immediately arose ; and, though he 
 could not unravel the mysteries of his journey, 
 yet, seeing the chest, and finding the keys, which 
 the Genius had given him, he was contented, and 
 ordered them to strike their tents, and begin their 
 march for the city of Bagdat. The chest was by 
 long poles made fast to four camels, which were 
 placed in the centre of the caravan. 
 
 The mind of Abudah, though in possession of the 
 chest, was yet not without its apprehensions that 
 the wild Arabs might come down upon his little
 
 38 THE TALIS.AIAN OF OllOMANESJ 
 
 party, and bereave him of his treasure. The first 
 day, the caravan reached a jjooI of water, and on 
 its banks the careful Abudah ordered his retinue to 
 pitch their tents, and unload the camels from their 
 hurthejis ; and, at tlie same time, placed four of 
 liis slaves as sentinels, toward the four different 
 quarters of his encampment ; and ordered the 
 chest, for the greater security, to be buried in the 
 sand under his tent, while he endeavoured to com- 
 liose himself for slumber. Nor were his fears 
 unreasonable : for at the hour of midnight a small 
 party of Arabs stole down toward them, in order to 
 encamp there for the benefit of the water. 
 
 Abudah had notice from his slave, who looked 
 toward the west, of their approach, and was like- 
 wise informed that their number was small ; but 
 such was his anxiety and irresolution, and fear 
 of losing his treasure or his life, that he dared 
 not order them to be attacked, or prepare for 
 flight. During this ineffectual altercation and 
 struggle of Abudah with his fears, one of the slaves 
 more daring than the rest, finding his master fear- 
 ful, encouraged his comrades, and marshalling 
 them in order, led them toward the robbers. 
 
 The Arabs, who were not more than twenty in 
 number, at sight of a force so much superior 
 turned their backs, and left Abudah's slaves in quiet 
 possession of their tents. But now the slave seeing 
 the Arabs flying from before him, and observing the 
 fear of his master, and the great concern he had for 
 the iron chest, addressed himself to the rest of the 
 slaves, and declaring what immense treasures there 
 might lie hid in that chest, seeing their master had 
 left Bagdat to search for it, and had it secured with 
 so many locks, persuaded them to rob Abudah, 
 and depart with the riches to some other country, 
 where they might enjoy the fruits of their ra-
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ACUDAH. 39 
 
 pine. This being easily as^reed to, thej' all in a 
 body advanced to the teutof Abudah,wlio came out 
 to meet and thank them fortbeir gallant behaviour. 
 
 The bold slave thus made answer to his master's 
 thanks : — ' The danger, O Abudah, of defending 
 thy riches, contained in the chest with many 
 locks, fell all upon thy slaves ; whilst thou, who 
 wert to enjoy the comfort of those riches, didst lie 
 trembling in thy tent : Wherefore we, who have 
 borne the burthen, mean also to share the profits 
 with thee ; but, that thou mayest see that we are 
 just, one equal share shall be thy portion, and the 
 rest belongs to those who have preserved to thee 
 even the share that will be appointed thee.' These 
 words being ended, without any regard to either the 
 threatenings or prayers of Abudah, they dug up 
 the chest ; and, having cleared away the sand, 
 demanded of him the keys of the fifty locks. 
 
 Abudah, finding them inexorable, besought them 
 tliat they would at least give him a day to considc 
 of their proposal. ' What!' replied the bold slave. 
 ' a day ? Why, Merchant, long ere that will a 
 thousand Arabs be upon us, invited by those that 
 fire fled; and we shall suffer death, and you and 
 all entirely lose the valuable possessions which 
 are doubtless contained in that strong chest of iron.' 
 
 It was in vain that, in return, the Merchant 
 assured them, that there was nothing therein, 
 but a poor talisman, whose virtues they could not 
 know ; and promised them all liberty and riches, if 
 they arrived safe in Bagdat with the chest. They 
 had' gone too far to trust to his promises; and the 
 slave who was their ringleader, ordering all to 
 retire, left Abudah for half an hour to think of 
 their proposal. 
 
 Abudah, as soon as they had left him, threw 
 himself upon the chest, as one who was grasping
 
 40 THE TALISMAN OF ORO.AIAXES ; 
 
 all that was dear unto him, and, with a loud sigh, 
 began to lament his fate ; when, as before, a deep 
 sleep ovtTlaking him, he sunk motionless on his 
 treasure. 
 
 At midnight he awaked, and, turning his eyes 
 around, perceived he was in the apartments of his 
 seraglio in 13ai:dat. and that his wife was sleeping 
 near him on the sofa. The recollection of his happy 
 escape immediately got possession of his mind : and 
 he doubted not but lie should find his chest, as he 
 liad before. Wherefore, before he saluted, or in- 
 deed thought of his wife, taking one of the sweet- 
 scentt'il lamps, that always were burning in the 
 centre of the aprtment, he perceived the chest in 
 the very corner wliere, before, the box which had 
 caused him so much uneasiness used to remain 
 fixed. 
 
 A budah, now feeling for, and taking out, the fifty 
 keys, thought himself the happiest of mankind, 
 'ihe danger which he conceived the talisman might 
 be in, from lying in a chest so conspicuous, and 
 which he had already experienced, determined 
 him, at all hazards, to unlock with his fifty keys 
 tlie iron chest, and take the talisman out, and 
 always wear it concealed about him. With this 
 view he began to try the first key, which, to his 
 amazement, would fit neither of the fifty locks. At 
 tliis he began to suspect that either the Genius of 
 Riches had mistaken (which he could hardly sup- 
 pose), or that some evil Genius had changed them 
 in his bosom. — ' However,' said he to himself, 
 * perhaps, us one key will open none, one also may 
 open all :' so, taking out one by one, he tried them 
 all : but neither of the fifty keys would open a 
 single lock. 
 
 Abudiih, at this discovery, flung himself on the 
 6ofa, and began to lament his miserable fate : but
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH, 41 
 
 he soon resolved to trj' the keys a second time : 
 ' for/ said he, ' some key I have possibly missed, 
 and such a treasure cannot be expected -without 
 much labour and pains.' At this he rose up, and 
 was going toward the chest; when, starting at a 
 noise in the centre of the room, he beheld the little 
 box, which had been the first cause of all his grief; 
 and was saluted by the old hag, who hobbled out 
 from her confinement, and began to terrify the 
 afflicted Merchant in the following terms : — 
 
 * O, senseless Abudah ! to hope that the talis- 
 man of Oromanes might be bought with riches ! 
 Thou hast indeed a chest, but thou hast neither the 
 means, nor canst thou force open this chest to 
 search for thy treasure : what, then, art thou the 
 better for thy possession, or the happier for thy chest 
 of iron ? It will, indeed, convey thee where thou 
 desirest, and thou mayest rest upon it; but, waking, 
 thou feelest the tortures of anxiety, and feelestthem 
 the sharper, because thou fearest to lose what thou 
 canst not enjoy : Go, then, and search till thou 
 findest the keys of the fifty locks ; but be not 
 so senseless as to suppose that the Genius would 
 have parted with the treasure, could he have made 
 any use of it. In a far different country must 
 thou hope to find those keys which will unlock 
 that chest ; a joyous country, where serenity ever 
 dwells, and pleasure reigns eternal. — A short re- 
 spite will I give thee; but ere this moon be passed, 
 let me find you active, or I shall invent double 
 horrors to surround you.' 
 
 Having thus said, the box closed, and in an in- 
 stant Abudah behold it mounted on the chest, 
 which he vainly hoped would have driven such a 
 troublesome guest from his house. 
 
 And now Selima his wife, awaking, beheld with 
 surprise her husband Abudah drowned in tears by
 
 42 THE TALISMAN OF 0R0MANE3 ; 
 
 her side. She instantly pressed liim in her arras, 
 and, in transports, inquired by what happy fate he 
 was returned. 
 
 'Why, know you not,' replied Abudah, *that 
 the third morniny:, as 1 mounted the car, which the 
 traveller had prepared for me, and was arrayed in 
 iny best vestments of gold and diamonds, having a 
 procession the length of two days before me, and 
 such a numerous retinue of all the nobles of Bag- 
 dat, and having archers innumerable attending my 
 caravan, wliich was moving towards the valley — ?' 
 
 ' Oh, my dear Abudah,' said Selima, interrupting 
 him, ' with what madness hath that wicked en- 
 chanter possessed you? What car? what vest- 
 ments? what procession doth my lord talk of? 
 There came, indeed, (brought by those who called 
 themselves your friends), a poor wretch here, who 
 has embezzled the greater part of your riches, and 
 who often talked in private with you : and this 
 continued for some months, during which time 
 you never attended to the speech of your friends, 
 but seemed wrapped up iu that specious villain, 
 who at last took you to the room fronting the gate- 
 way of the city, and there for two days you con- 
 tinued looking out, and seemed to be in raptures, 
 talking of more riches than the world contains : and 
 the third day, though he still continued by you, 
 you persisted he was gone. Yet he went forth, and 
 you followed him ; and getting into a little vehicle, 
 he placed himself Iiehind you, and your family 
 have from that day lamented your absence.' 
 
 At this recital, Abudah turned his face on the 
 sofa, and spake no more for several hours. At 
 last, rising from the sofa, ' Fool indeed, that I 
 was !' said he,* to trust the account of a miserable 
 impostor, or believe that the talisman of Oromanes 
 might be purchased with riches !'
 
 OR, THE MEUCHANT ABUDAH. 43 
 
 'O, rather ' replied Selima, ' may my lord find 
 peace in tiiis city, and comfort from bis family 
 who adore him !' 
 
 ' It was there,' ansAvered the Merchant, * that I 
 once hoped to find it : but satiety, which I will not 
 suffer to breed disgust, forces me at least to be in- 
 different to the pleasures which surround me. No, 
 Selima ; T have a nocturnal monitor, who will not 
 permit me to rest till I have made myself master 
 of the talisman of the perfect Oromanes. It is 
 some knowledge to perceive our errors : and, at 
 least, I am nearer the possession of the talisman, 
 as my last journey, though it has not given me the 
 talisman itself, has yet furnished me with the means 
 of obtaining it.' 
 
 Having thus spoken, he seemed for a time easy 
 and resigned, and endeavoured by love and tender- 
 ness to soothe the affliction of the weeping Seliroa. 
 The moon passed in all those endearments which 
 holy love inspires : when the. persecuted Merchant 
 Avas again awakened by his midnight hag, and 
 commanded to pursue his journey after the talisman 
 of Oromanes. 
 
 Abudah was about to reply, when on a sudden 
 he heard themostravishingmusic,andimmediately 
 subtle and precious perfumes filled the chamber, 
 and a small cloud gathering from the roof descended, 
 and,expanding, produced to his view a most exqui- 
 site beauty, habited like the eternal Houris, be- 
 decked with chaplets of delicate ever-living flowers, 
 holding in one hand a crystal cup, and with the 
 other pressing out the sparkling juice from a swell- 
 ing cluster of delicious grapes. 
 
 ' Here, faithful Abudah,' began the lovely form, 
 ' receive from these humble hands the cup which 
 will inspire you with the knowledge of the talisman 
 of Oromanes ; quaff off this delicious draught, and.
 
 44 THE TALISMAN OF OROMAXES J 
 
 reclining yourself on the iron chest, that faithful 
 treasure will, at a wish, convey you to those happy 
 realms, where, without a guard, the keys of all thy 
 pleasures are reserved.' 
 
 At these words, with grace ineffable, she ad- 
 vanced to the transported Merchant ; who, with 
 thrilling joy, received from her ivory hands the 
 rich, sparkling draught, and sucked it in with mad 
 delight. The Houri immediately disappeared, and 
 Abudah, falling senseless on the chest, resigned 
 himself to sleep, and to a second adventure. 
 
 The second Adventure of the Merchant Abudah, 
 in the Groves of Shadaski. 
 
 Abudah, awakening at the cheerful sound of in- 
 numerable birds who sang around him, and strove 
 for mastery in their sweet notes, found himself 
 lying in a lovely pavilion, strewed with fresh lilies 
 and roses, and filled with the most ravishing per- 
 fumes ; the downy sofa, on which he reclined, was 
 of the finest silk, wrought with curious devices, 
 and executed wifh such life and spirit, that flowers 
 seemed, in the mimic work, to spring forth from 
 under him. The rising sun, which appeared over 
 the blue distant hills, and warmed the awaking 
 day ; the choristers of the aroves, whose melody 
 was softened by the gentle motion of the air ; the 
 unspeakable elegance of the pavilion, which seemed 
 formed by the powers of harmony ; and the delicious 
 fragrance of the air; transported the Merchant with 
 the most pleasing sensations : he could not, for 
 eome time, believe his existence, but supposed that 
 he was still under the influence of the delightful 
 vision which had the night before taken possession 
 of him. He turned his eyes on all sides to meet 
 with new delights ; which, though sumptuous and 
 costly, owed more lustre to their delicacy and dis-
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 45 
 
 p(^sition, than to the expensive materials out of 
 Tphich they were formed. 
 
 But if such were the ravishinpf delijSfhts within, 
 Abudah thought them much realized when he Avas 
 convinced he was awake ; and, by stepping forward 
 out of the pavilion, he beheld every enchanting 
 object that art and nature could unite. 
 
 The pavilion itself stood upon a rising mount, in 
 the midst of a most beautiful green, and was partly 
 shaded by some upright palms, and a scattered 
 grove of oranges and citrons, which on all sides, by 
 beautiful brakes, gave a view of the neighbouring 
 paradise. The centre of the pavilion opened to 
 the lawn, which was beset with elegant tufts of the 
 most delightful verdure. 
 
 Blushing and transparent fruits peeped from be- 
 tween the foliage, and every coloured, every scented 
 flower, in agreeable variety, intermingled with the 
 grass, presented to Abudah's eyes the garden-work 
 of luxuriant nature. Here roses, with woodbines 
 entwined, appeared in beauteous contention; here 
 luscious grapes adorned the barren branches of the 
 stately elm ; while beneath strayed the rich flocks, 
 or birds of various feather; some in numbers upon 
 the ground, and some paired in trees ; which added 
 a new variety to the scene. At the bottom of the 
 lawn, ran a clear and transparent stream, which 
 gently washed the margin of the green, and seemed 
 to feed it as it passed. On the other side a grove 
 of myrtles, intermixed with roses, and flowering 
 shrubs, led into sliady mazes; in the midst of 
 which appeared the glittering tops of other elegant 
 pavilions, some of which stood just on the brink 
 of the river; others had wide avenues leading 
 through the groves ; and others were almost lost 
 to sight by the intervening woods. 
 
 Abudah, directing his steps towards the stream,
 
 40 THE TALISMAN OF OKOMANES; 
 
 found there an elegant barge, manned by ten beau- 
 tiful youths, whosegarments were of azare,trimmed 
 withhold. They beckoned the happy Merchant, 
 and received him with the utmost affability into 
 their bark; then, all at once, plying their reful<jeiit 
 oar?, they made the crystal flood sparkle with their 
 ready strokes. The boatrofle lightly on the stream, 
 and, as it passed through the meanders of the cur- 
 rent, every moment presented a new and striking 
 prospect of beauties to tlie delighted Abudah. 
 Hanging rocksof a thousand different hues; woods 
 of spices, and perfumes breathing sweetness over 
 Hie cool stream ; fruits reflected in double lustre 
 in the clear waves ; shrubs drooping their roses as 
 they passed ; flocks and herds standing gazing at 
 their own images in the deep ; others drinking of 
 tiie transparent waters ; and some, more satisfied, 
 frisking on the lawns, or chasing each other in sport 
 anions the trees. 
 
 At length the stream growing wider, openea into 
 a spacious lake, which was half surrounded with 
 a rising hill, on which might be seen, intermixed 
 with groves, a thousand gay pavilions, palaces, 
 theatres, rotundas, obelisks, temples, pillars, and 
 other curious marks of elegance and luxury ; va- 
 rious pleasure boats were sailing on the surface of 
 the lake, some with gaudy banners fanning the 
 winds, others with plca.>ing structures for shade and 
 entertainment ; in one boat, gay music ; in another 
 banquets; in a third, desserts of the finest fruits, 
 viands, cooling liquors ; and gay company in all, 
 who looked more blooming than the sons of the 
 Genii, or the daughters of the Fairies. At the 
 extremities of the swelling hill, ran glittering cas- 
 cades ; and o'er the pendent rocks drooped down 
 the most luxuriant vines, whose modest leaves 
 attempted in vain to hide their luscious and trans-
 
 OK, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 47 
 
 parent fruit from the curious eye of the observer. 
 At the extremity of the lake, which, by its pure 
 waters, exposed the yellow golden sand on which it 
 wantoned, two streams ran towards the right and 
 left of the hill, and lost themselves amidst the groves, 
 pastures, lawns, hillocks, and romantic scenes of 
 the adjacent country ; where lofty gilded spires, 
 swelling domes, and other curious labours, were 
 partly concealed, and partly discovered, by the blue 
 expanse of sky, which at last seemed blended with 
 the country, and terminated the prospect of the 
 Groves of Shadaski. 
 
 The beautiful watermen, who in alternate song 
 kept time with their oars, were now almost at the 
 farther side of the lake, and in the centre of the 
 shore where Abudah had beheld the mixed groves, 
 temples, and pavilions. A little creek, shaded 
 with myrtles and cedars, was the place where 
 Abudah was destined to land. Here, as he ap- 
 proached, ten beauteous fair ones, dressed like the 
 Genii of the woods, stood ready to receive him, 
 which they did with the most amiable and pleasing 
 gestures. 
 
 The boat, having landed the Merchant, shot again 
 swiftly over the lake, and mixed with the gav 
 pageants on the water, while the fair strangers in- 
 vited Abudah toward the palaces which were scat- 
 tered on the hill. 
 
 Having passed through several fragrant avenues 
 of trees, laden either with shade, fruit or flower, 
 they brought him toward an elegant building, whose 
 front faced the lake whence they came : here, 
 amidst parterres and beds of flowers, a broad plat 
 led them to the entrance of the palace, where all 
 the lavish ornaments of art and sculpture were 
 displayed in the most refined symmetry ; light 
 polished shafts, airy devices, highly-finished en- 
 tablatures, and other fancii'ul dccoi'ations, formed
 
 48 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 the building, which was more calculated to give 
 the ideas of pleasure than magnificence, and had 
 more ease than labour conspicuous. 
 
 Into this mansion the ten beauties led the way, 
 and introduced Abudah into a grand hall, adorned 
 with lively groups of delicate statues, in all atti- 
 tudes and actions : some representing the lovely 
 wood-nymphs ; some, the naked beauties of the 
 flood; others pursuing lovers; others, the coyly- 
 willing virgins, who seemed, even in the ivory in 
 which they were carved, to show a soft reluctance. 
 
 Between the statues were pictures of every joy 
 the heart conceives ; the luscious banquet ; the 
 wild effects of the enlivening grape ; the various 
 pleasures of the different Seasons ; the country and 
 the court; the amorous swains; the gentle nymph ; 
 the mixed dance ; the various seraglio ; the tray 
 decked sultana, and the joys of sweet retirement 
 with the favourite fair. Tliese all were so lively 
 in their different colours and complexions, that 
 they seemed to the eyes of Abudah as moving 
 pictures. 
 
 Next the ten beauties led the Merchant into an 
 inner appartment, adorned with the softest sofas, 
 whose walls were one entire mirror, whicii reflected 
 the ten beauties to the amorous Abudah ten tlicii- 
 sand ways ; while smiles and soft languishing looks, 
 darting from on all sides at once upon him, ravished 
 liis senses beyond the power of description. 
 
 From this apartment a door opened into a spa- 
 cious rotunda, lighted from the top by the sun, and 
 the sides supported by emblematic pillars. In the 
 middle of this rotunda, Abudah beheld a bath, and 
 round the rotunda were eleven doors, which led to 
 as many sofas. Into one of these the ten beauties 
 led the Merchant, and prepared him for the bath ; 
 and in the others, the ten put off their own super-
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 49 
 
 fluous garments; after which, they brought the ra- 
 vished Merchant, and plunged him in the bath, 
 which was prepared of warm and sweet-scented 
 waters. 
 
 The nature of Abudah could scarcely resist the 
 languishing powers of this place,- and he sunk into 
 the arms of his fair attendants; who now led him 
 onward to the other side of the rotunda into a 
 wardroom furnished with the most airy and fanci- 
 iul dresses : here every one chose as they liked. 
 Abudali was presented by the ten beauties with a 
 pink suit, embroidered with myrtle twigs of silver, 
 and flowers of pearl : but first they sprinkled him 
 with costly essences, and with a fragrant wash 
 renewed his complexion, and seemed to give him 
 a second youth. 
 
 They next arrayed themselves in costly robes of 
 divers colours, and, like Abudah, added by that 
 fragrant wash a new bloom to their elegant com- 
 plexions. From the wardroom a door opened to a 
 spacious saloon: here Abudah was invited to a sofa, 
 and immediately each fair beauty was laden with 
 dishes; every luxury,every variety was there. Abu- 
 dah and his fair company began the banquet, while 
 'genii invisible administered to them rich sparkling 
 wines, high sauces, congealed liquors; fruits of every 
 kind, the nectarine, the Persian apple, the lordly 
 pine, the luscious grape, the cooling pomegranate, 
 the juicy pear, and thousand others, were heaped 
 before them, till Nature was not only satisfied, but 
 tired with the profusion. Then followed the spark- 
 ling and racy wines, forbidden indeed by Mahomet, 
 but not forbidden in the Groves of Shadaski ; the 
 sweetmeats and preserves, and, in short, every 
 luxury which could stimulate and rouse the jaded 
 appetite. 
 
 During this repast, the beautiful companions of 
 £
 
 .00 THE TALISMAX OF OUOMAKES j 
 
 Abudali began to challenge each other with lively 
 songs and mirthful jokes; while the rapturous 
 Merchant, with sparkling eyes, the quick effects of 
 wine and song, beheld each with equal flame, and 
 knew not, in suih exquisite variety, where to fix 
 his choice. The banquet bringing on satiety, after 
 washing they aiose, and this lively train led 
 Abudah (the evening now drawing on) into the 
 gardens of the palace. 
 
 After walking by several cooling fountains and 
 sweet-smelling grovfs, they came to a magnificent 
 terrace, crowned with a thousand gay youths and 
 beauties, in the most fantastical masquerades. All 
 nations might be seen upon this variegated terrace, 
 and the beauties of every clime; all conversation 
 was here indulged, though the pleasures of life 
 were the universal topic. Cooling liquors, fruits, 
 cakes, creams, and wines, were spread on theflowery 
 banks on each side of the terrace, and in arbours of 
 oranges and myrtles, or sweet jasmines, where any 
 company, as they pleased, retired ; behind the trees 
 and shrubs were placed large bands of music, some- 
 times inspiring, and sometimes melting the hearts 
 of their auditors. 
 
 The sun was setting, just as Abudah had gained 
 the centre of this extensive terrace (for his compa- 
 nions had left him to join what company he pleased). 
 Here he perceived on a large green planted round 
 with lofty palms, under whicli grew a thousand 
 shrubs a most extensive building, of an oblong 
 form, and supported by a thousand magnificent 
 pillars, where the crowd from the terrace were re- 
 tiring. Abudah entered with the rest, and advanced 
 into the room, which was lighted up with numb* r- 
 less lusties, and furnished all around with silken 
 canoj)ies, each having under it sofas of the richest 
 velvet. Here the gay assembly, as soon as the
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 51 
 
 music from the gallery struck up, began the dance, 
 nor could the pleased Merchant refrain from the 
 enlivening motion — Thus passed the fleeting 
 hours, till exercise renewed their appetites for the 
 banquet. 
 
 On a sudden, while each fair one, and her ena- 
 moured partner, were resting on the sofas which 
 surrounded the room, a noble banquet was spread, 
 to which Abudah was about to rise, when his part- 
 ner, pulling him by his garment, bade him wait 
 till the Queen of Pleasures honoured that bright 
 assembly with her presence. Ere long, the softest 
 music began to sound : a hundred choristers in 
 masquerade habits entered the assembly, singing 
 the pleasures of women, company, and wine. These 
 were followed by forty young maidens, scattering 
 roses and violets around; after which came forward, 
 under a canopy, supported by twelve beautiful 
 boys, the Queen of Pleasures : at her approach, the 
 company arose, and, with the utmost adoration, 
 prostrated themselves before her. 
 
 When the Queen was seated on a throne at the 
 upper end of the room, and the banquet was about 
 to begin, she ordered her maidens to find out the 
 stranger who came yesterday to visit her domi- 
 nions. Immediately Abudah was brought before 
 her ; who prostrating himself at her feet, she, with 
 a smile, gave him her hand, and commanded him 
 to rise. 
 
 'O happy Abudah,' said the Queen of Pleasures, 
 * whom the Fates ordained to bring into th( se 
 delightful regions the chest of the Valley of Boc- 
 chim ! The superior Genii, envying the happiness 
 which we inferior Genii enjoyed, contrived to 
 divide the keys and the chest, which, tradition 
 declares, contains the talisman of Oromanes; and 
 tliou, O Abudah, art the man who art destined to
 
 ^2 THE TALISMAN OF ©ROMANES ; 
 
 unite them. Worthy, Abudah, for such services, 
 of the love of thy slaves ! Come, then, thou prince 
 of my affections, and share with me the pleasures 
 of these happy groves.' 
 
 She then commanded the company to pay Abu- 
 dah the honours they used to pay her ; and, with a 
 pressing tenderness, obliged him to share with her 
 the throne of Pleasure. Abudah now conceived 
 himself the happiest of mankind; the alluring 
 charms of the Queen of Pleasures, whose beauties 
 were almost too exquisite to behold, caused his 
 veins to boil in mad delight :— but when, with all 
 the fondness of a doting mistress, she seized him 
 by the hand, and with eyes brim-full with love she 
 seemed to gaze with transports upon him, his 
 passion knew no bounds, he commanded the enter- 
 tainment to cease, and, with tumultuous haste, led 
 the yielding Queen to the remotest canopy. And 
 now, the company retiring, each under the canopy 
 of pleasure, the room was all hushed, and silence. 
 Thus passed away the night in the Groves of Sha- 
 daski; the morning brought reflection and satiety ; 
 and Abudah, with some impatience, besought the 
 Queen of Pleasures to surrender him the keys of 
 the iron chest. 
 
 ' My ever-loved Abudah,' replied the Queen, 
 behold the chest in the centre of my temple; and 
 here are the keys for my adventurous hero : go 
 happy Abudah, and purchase a perpetuity in these 
 never-fading arms, by the possession of the talis- 
 man of the pleasure-giving Oromanes.' 
 
 Abudah, having received the keys, jumped for- 
 ward from the pavilion to the middle of tlie temple ; 
 and like a man j ust entering on a new pursuit, with 
 great imjjatience began to open the fifty locks. 
 The l(>cks, being only touched by the keys, flew 
 from ilicir staples, and the Merchant in a few
 
 OK, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 53 
 
 minutes, had conquered forty-nine of the obstacles 
 of his happiness : as he was openingf the last, — 
 ' O Queen/ said he, ' come forward, and see me 
 finish this desirable adventure !' — The last lock 
 tumbled off just as the Queen arrived at the chest ; 
 and Abudah besought her to share with him the 
 pleasures of exploring the treasures of the chest. 
 But no sooner did the Merchant stoop to open the 
 lid of the iron chest, than a sudden darkness en- 
 sued, and in a moment the loud thunder cracked 
 around him, and streams of crooked lightnings, with 
 horrid blaze encircled the astonished Abudah. 
 
 The shrieks and cries of the once gay set, who 
 were indulging under the canopies, next struck his 
 ears ; some, already blasted by the lightning, wi- 
 thered away ; others, the ruins of the temple falling 
 in huge fragments, half-buried in the earth ; the 
 rest, in madness running to and fro in despair, tore 
 each other to pieces. The red angry lightning still 
 continuing, Abudah, in the utmost anguish, looked 
 toward the Queen ; — when, (O fearful sight I) he 
 saw her soft form parching and contracting by the 
 flames, and her whole body diminishing, till by 
 degrees, instead of eyes brim-full of love, he be- 
 held the little old hag, with fury flashing from her 
 looks. — 
 
 ' Wretch, as well as fool,' said she, with a voice 
 that pierced his inmost sense, ' how darest thou 
 presume to seek the talisman of Oromanes amidst 
 the vanities and intemperance of this filthy grove? 
 But I leave thee to enjoy the situation thou art so 
 fond of; be this dungeon of lust thy prison ; here 
 wander, and contemplate the pleasures thou hast 
 chosen.' 
 
 Thus saying, she struck Abudah with her crutch, 
 and vanished from his sight. The touch of her 
 noxious band filled him with aching pains, and the
 
 54 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES; 
 
 dead bodies and the groans of those dying around 
 liim, inspired the wretched Merchant with horror 
 aVid remorse. 
 
 He wandered for a long time in what he now 
 believed an endless cavern, without light ; and, to 
 add to his wretchedness, every step he took, he trod 
 on some venomous creature: the serpents hissed at 
 him as he passed; the toads spitmalignant fire; and 
 the asps, twining round his legs, spewed their venom 
 on liim,and marked him with a thousand blotches. 
 Thus continued he wandering to and fro, with 
 great caution, about the dismal cavern, no more 
 tormented with the groans of others than his own 
 dismal and heart-aching thoughts, which made him 
 weep and tremble every step he took. 
 
 After many weary searches for an end, or place 
 to escape, he felt something larger than common 
 seize him by the leg ; upon which, the poor wretch 
 supposed he was in the gripe of an enormous ser- 
 pent, and began shrieking with fear and terror ; 
 when a voice, like that of despair, spoke as follows : 
 
 ' What wretch art thou, who yet remainest alive, 
 in this cavern of desolation and death ?' 
 
 Abudah, though still in terror, was yet somewhat 
 comforted, to find some companion in his miseries, 
 and thus answered him : — 
 
 ' I am, indeed, a wretch, misled in my searches 
 after the talisman of Oromanes !' 
 
 ' What !' answered the voice, ' wast thou fool 
 enough to suppose, that pleasure was the road to 
 that noble jewel ? — It were then,' continued the 
 voice, ' an easy purchase : but rough is the path, 
 and high the mount, on which that treasure is 
 preserved.' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered Abudah, ' it matters not to 
 me, where or how this talisman is disposed, who 
 am thus for ever enclosed in these walls of wret^-h- 
 cdnes?.'
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 55 
 
 ' We cannot but rise,' answered the voice, ' when 
 we are at the bottom ; and perhaps the most bar- 
 ren ground will yield the richest mine; be thou 
 but resolved to tread the crooked and laborious 
 path, and I will instruct thee ; for within these 
 caverns begins the winding ascent.' 
 
 * O friend, or Genius, or whatsoever else thou 
 art,' returned the Merchant, ' place me but in the 
 track, and no dangers shall deter me : for what has 
 he to fear, who is bej'ond hope?' 
 
 ' Take, then,' answered the voice, * thy way as 
 the cavern descends: and fear not to stoop in order 
 to rise ; for in the lowest part of this cavern is 
 situated the opening you must ascend.' 
 
 As the voice ended, Abudah found his feet at 
 liberty, and began to feel out for the cavern's 
 descent. The lower he went, the more filth and 
 stench he found ; to which submitting with pa- 
 tience, he, by a long passage, sometimes crawling 
 under rugged arches, sometimes wading in mud and 
 dirt, and in total darkness, attained the end of the 
 cavern, where he stumbled on some narrow steps ; 
 but could see no light, and was nearly suffocated 
 with the noisome vapours. 
 
 The winding ascent was so intricate, and clogged 
 with dirt and rubbish, that the Merchant worked 
 like a mole in the dark ; but, by his industry, he 
 gained ground considerably : yet what mostly tor- 
 mented him was, that as often as he endeavoured to 
 mount, the steps would slip from under him, and 
 he would come tumbling down with a weight of 
 dirt upon him ; and then had all his work to do 
 over again. Nothing but his intolerable situation 
 and lost condition could have supported the Mer- 
 chant in the odious undertaking : but meanness 
 and wretchedness know uo evils greater than them- 
 selves.
 
 rj) THE TALISMAN OF OKO.MAXKS ; 
 
 After various labours, Abudali arrived at a kind 
 of resting: place, where the steps began to enlarge, 
 and by degrees he perceived from above a glim- 
 mering light ; to which ascending, the nearer he 
 drew to it, the plainer he could hear a confused 
 sound of voices echoing from the top, whicli 
 increased as he rose, till he could plainly distin- 
 guish it must proceed from some great concourse 
 of people without. 
 
 When he had reached the uppermost step, over 
 which a hole opened sufficient for a man to crawl 
 through, the clamours without were so terrifying 
 that he feared to proceed ; at last, considering that 
 death must be the consequence of remaining in 
 the cavern, he boldly ventured forth. 
 
 The Merchant Abudah's third Adventure, in the 
 Kingdom of Tasgi. 
 
 No sooner did the Merchant Abudah appear 
 through the opening of the cavern, than ten 
 thousand voices cried out all at once, — ' Long live 
 oar Sultan, whom the mountains of Tasgi have 
 brought forth !' And Abudah looking around, saw 
 an infinite concourse of people round the mountain, 
 and beyond them a most splendid country, with 
 cities and towns scattered among the valleys which 
 opened to his view. 
 
 A number ofeunuchs and viziers stepped forward 
 to disengage Abudah from the mouth of the cavern, 
 who was so spent Vv'ith his infirmities, sores, and 
 fatigue, that he was obliged to be supported. 
 Immediately a princely robe was thrown over him, 
 and a costly turban put upon his head ; the con- 
 course still crying out, with ecstasy and rapture, 
 ■* Long live our Sultan, whom the mountains of 
 Tasgi have brought forth 1'
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. bl 
 
 Silence being commanded, the grand vizier, with 
 a long train, came toward Abudah ; and, witli 
 all the people, prostrating himself before the Mer- 
 chant, thus addressed himself to Abudah : — 
 
 ' Behold, O thou, before whose presence even the 
 sun is darkness ! behold, O wonder of mankind, 
 most sacred progeny of Tasgi! thou miracle of 
 beauty ! thou mirror of perfection ! thou most glo- 
 rious Sultan of earthly princes! thou diamond of 
 nature ! thou guardian of the v/or!d ! behold thy 
 prostrate slaves ; whose wish is only to lay down 
 as thy foot-stools, and to be trodden under thy feet 
 as the dust of the plain ! Thine, O Sultan, is all 
 earthly happiness ; thine, every perfection of body 
 and mind ! thine, all power from the mountains of 
 thy parent Tasgi, to the parching deserts of Shez- 
 rullah, which forbid the approach of the stranger 
 to the kingdoms of our invincible Sultan! Rule, 
 therefore, thy slaves, according unto thy pleasure, 
 and know but one will in the plains and cities 
 which, by thy permission and bounty, thy slaves 
 inhabit.' 
 
 As the grand vizier, still prostrate with the people, 
 uttered these words, they all wKh one voice re- 
 peated : — ' O Sultan, whom the mountains of Tasgi 
 have brought forth, rule thy slaves according to 
 thy pleasure !' 
 
 Abudah, filled with conceit, and bloated with 
 pride, had almost forgot his pains and infirmities 
 in this flattering applause : he set his foot ou the 
 neck of the vizier with the utmost haughtiness, and 
 commanded him to conduct him to the seraglios of 
 his ancestors. — A number of slaves and eunuchs 
 brought up a magnificent throne of ivory, with a 
 canopy of golden embroidery thi'own over it, into 
 which Abudah ascended, and was borne on the 
 shoulders of the grandees and viziers of his newly 
 acquired kingdom.
 
 58 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES J 
 
 The retinue, winding round the hill, brought 
 Abudah in sight of an extensive encampment, 
 which, after the eastern manner, was of a thousand 
 different colours : one division yellow, one blue, 
 another wliite, some red, some green, and all 
 adorned with silver or gold. In the centre of this 
 splendid armament stood the royal tent, which 
 shone with the lustre of the gold and purple velvet 
 of which it was composed, and looked rather like 
 a palace than a tent. 
 
 Here Abudah was seated on his throne; and, 
 the nobles having done obeisance, Abudah com- 
 manded all but the grand vizier to depart. 
 
 The rest being gone, the grand vizier again 
 prostrating himself before Abudah, cried out, 
 • May my lord the Sultan of Tasgi ever rule over 
 Harran his slave.' 
 
 * Harran,' answered Abudah, * arise, and declare 
 to me the cause of this encampment, and why the 
 armies of Tasgi are thus scattered on the plains.' 
 
 * Our renowned Sultan Rammasin,' re}ilied the 
 vizier Harran, ' made it his custom to take the 
 field in summer to terrify his foes; but, in the 
 midst of this cajnpaign, it pleased the powers, who 
 preside over the mountains of Tasgi, to call him 
 from us, and bless us with the presence of my lord, 
 before whom I stand. For, since the time that 
 the descendants of Mahomet involved our kingdom 
 in perpetual bloodshed, we have been warned by 
 the oracles of Tasgi to expect a king from the 
 womb of the mountain, that no division of families, 
 or contention among brethren, might disturb the 
 peace of these happy kingdoms.' 
 
 ' And who,' said Abudah, * are the neighbours of 
 my kingdom beyond these mountains ?' 
 
 *They are,' replied the vizier, 'O Sultan, an 
 harmless, inoffensive race : which was the cause
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. £9 
 
 that the Sultan Rammasin would not make war 
 upon them, althouish their teiritories extend to the 
 sea-coast, and would be a noble addition to the 
 kingdom of the Sultan of Tasgi.' 
 
 ' Rammasin, then,' answered Abudah, ' wanted a 
 nobleness of soul, to sit down contented with less 
 than he might have enjoyed : but Abudah, your 
 present Sultan, will give their lands to the slaves 
 of Tasgi, and extend his dominions even over the 
 waves and the tempest.' 
 
 ' My royal master will thereby,' answered the 
 vizier, ' gain the hearts of his soldiers, who have 
 long pined in the inglorious lethargies of peace.' 
 
 ' Go, bid the trumpet sound, then,' said Abudah, 
 'and let it be proclaimed in the camp, that your 
 Sultan, Abudah, will revenge the injuries which the 
 inhabitants of Tasgi have received from their per- 
 fidious neighbours. Go, Harran, and denounce 
 war against the ' 
 
 ' Shakarahs,' said Harran, bowing, ' who have 
 insulted the mountains of Tasgi.' 
 
 Abudah was going on ; but his pains and weak- 
 ness obliged him to order that an inner tent migVit 
 be prepared for him. 
 
 While the eunuchs and slaves were attending 
 their new Sultan, his vizier Hurran caused the 
 royal mandate to be proclaimed about the en- 
 campment, and commanded the leaders of the 
 army to be assembled together, to deliver to them 
 the orders of the Sultan Abudah. 
 
 The whole kingdom of Tasgi was rejoiced at the 
 news of their Sultan's expedition againstthe help- 
 less and innocent Shakarahs; so little do subjects 
 weigh the merits of war! and the old and decrepit 
 parents stirred up their children to engage in a ser- 
 vice, where cruelty and destruction were honoured 
 with the titles of virtue and the love of their country.
 
 60. THE TALISMAN OF ©ROMANES; 
 
 Ere the sun began to smile upon the harvests of 
 the Shakarahs, the tents of Abudah were moving 
 to destroy- them ; the loud cymbals were clanging 
 in the air, and the brazen trumpets, with their 
 shrill notes of liveliness, seemed to inspire the 
 armies of Tasgi with a thirst of glory, and not of 
 blood. The order and discipline of the troops, the 
 regularity of their march, and the sprightliness of 
 their looks, utterly disguised the rapacious pur- 
 poses of the royal plunderer j who, though but just 
 master of one kingdom, was so eager to get pos- 
 session of a second, that he destroyed many of his 
 men in forcing a passage over the mountains, 
 which nature had placed as the boundaries of their 
 nation. 
 
 The Shakarahs having notice of their motions, 
 sent an embassy to meet the Sultan of Tasgi, be- 
 seeching to know the cause of his coming ; making 
 the humblest professions of peace ; and offering, 
 if any thing had offended him, to make the fullest 
 satisfaction they were capable of; and imploring 
 him, that he would not make war upon a nation 
 who were ever the friends of the Tasgites, and to 
 whom that kingdom had never declared any hos- 
 tile intention. 
 
 To these humble remonstrances Abudah replied, 
 that he was not to be taught and directed by such 
 base slaves as the Shakarahs, and that, whatever 
 intention he might have had originally in entering 
 their kingdom, he now declared he came to pnnish 
 the insolence of that people, who dared send such 
 dictating embassies to the Tasgi. 
 
 He then commanded the ambassadors to be 
 driven from the encampment, and ordered his 
 army to begin their hostilities on the presumptuous 
 Shakarahs. 
 
 The leaders of the armies of Tasgi being i^no-
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. Gl 
 
 rnnt and imperious, every kind of tyranny and 
 cruelty was practised, till, the wretched Shakarahs 
 being made prisoners, and their wives and families 
 ravished or murdered, the Sultan Abudah returned 
 to the kingdom of Tasgi, with the spoils of the 
 conquered country, amidst the acclamations of the 
 army and its leaders; who were so lavish of their 
 praises and adulations, that Abudah esteemed him- 
 self at least equal to the Prophet of Mecca. 
 
 After Abudah arrived at the metropolis of Tasgi, 
 his viziers came to inquire of him where he would 
 bestow the miserable Shakarahs, most of whom 
 they had led home in chains. Abudah was for 
 some time doubtful of their fate; and was at last 
 going to order a general execution, when he recol- 
 lected the iron chest which was buried in the 
 mountains of Tasgi. 
 
 ' Let the Shakarahs/ said the Sultan Abudah, 
 '' be condemned to work in the mountains of Tasgi, 
 till they find an iron chest with fifty locks.' 
 
 At these words the grand vizier Harran bowed 
 before the Sultan, and said : ' Will my lord dare to 
 send the Shakarahs into the womb of Tasgi, which 
 his own subjects are forbidden to approach"?' 
 
 'Take the rebel Harran,' said Abudah, in indig- 
 nation, ' and let his head be severed from his body, 
 and his tongue let the dogs devour.' 
 
 The other viziers gladly saw this execution per- 
 formed on Harran, and returned to the Sultan, and 
 said : — * Far be it that a Monarch of the East 
 should be governed by his slaves. Be the will of 
 the Sultan Abudah for ever obeyed, as it is in the 
 destruction of the traitor Harran ; as it is in the 
 labours of the Shakarahs in the mountains of 
 Tasgi.' 
 
 Abudah hourly sent his viziers to inspect the 
 miners in the mountains, whoreturnedwithaccounta
 
 6"2 THE TALISMAN OF OROMAXES; 
 
 of the fleutli of thousands, over whom the moun- 
 tain crumbled, and smothered them in its caverns. 
 The Tassites, jealous of their mountain, which 
 they supposed was somewhat divine, began to mur- 
 mur at the impiety of their Sultan ; which when 
 Abudah knew, he commanded the leaders of his 
 army to chastise them, and to put every tenth man 
 throughout his kingdom to the sword. 
 
 At length the fainting Shakarahs dug out the 
 chest of iron, and brought it to Abudah, who com- 
 manded every engine of force to be applied to it to 
 break it open ; but in vain ; the chest resisted all 
 their endeavours, and would not yield to the utmost 
 force the art of man could bring against it. 
 
 Abudah then published a reward to any that 
 should make keys to fit the locks. This, several 
 undertook, and succeeded; but as soon as one lock 
 was opened, it shut while the artificer was employed 
 about the second. 
 
 Abudah, puffed up with pride, was enraged at 
 this disappointment, and commanded fifty men to 
 take the fifty keys, and all attempt it at once ; 
 which they did, and were all immediately struck 
 dead ; he then commanded a second fifty ; but none 
 but his army were near him, for the rest were fled 
 from the tyrant's presence. 
 
 Abudah now ordered fifty soldiers to approach; 
 when the leaders of the army, moved by his 
 cruelties, and seeing he was about to sacrifice his 
 army as well as his subjects, uniting together came 
 toward him in a body ; which Abudah perceiving, 
 and expecting no mercy, leaped on the chest, and 
 trusted himself to its saving power. 
 
 Immediately the chest moved aloft in the air; 
 and Abudah, being stupified and giddy, fell into a 
 deep sleep, and was wafted from the army and 
 kingdom of Tasgi.
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 63 
 
 The Merchant Ahudah's fourth Adventure, 
 among the Sages of Nema. 
 
 Abudali found himself on the iron chest beneath 
 a rock which hung over him, and was covered with 
 a pleasant shade of palms; at a little distance, a 
 p:entle lill ran bubbling over the stones, and took 
 its course along a narrow valley, which on each 
 side was bounded by rocks and verdant hills. 
 Here, as he eyed the rural scene, and reflected on 
 his escape from Tasgi, he observed a venerable 
 sage gently moving forward along the valley, and 
 to appearance, directing his steps towards the rock 
 under which he was sitting. Abiid;ih's conscience 
 was so alarmed at the sight of a human form, 
 which, during his tyrannical reign he had so often 
 defaced, that he strove to hide himself even from 
 the approach of a weak old man ; but, thp sat^e 
 still advancing with ease and composure, Abudah, 
 after some hesitation, suffered liim to join him. 
 
 The sage, with great obsequiousness, bowed be- 
 fore Abudah (who had still tlie royal turban upon 
 his head, and the ensigns of the regal power about 
 his shoulders), and said: — O prince, who deignest 
 to visit these retreats of learning and philosophy ; 
 — whether thou a: t he whose knowledge was uni- 
 versal, the glory of the East, the sagest of sages, 
 the indefatigable Solomon ; or whether thou art 
 here arrived from any nei'^hbou-ring realm in 
 quest of science, and art willing to honour our 
 school with thy august presence ; permit one of the 
 lowest of the sons of knowledge to conduct you 
 to the trmple and seat of learning, which the gresit 
 Solomon here founded in the desert, for the investi- 
 gation of truth and the discoveries of nature. 
 This vnle, which is our only retreat from the sultry
 
 04 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES; 
 
 sun, or the wide-extended desert, winds round to 
 the entrance of our seminary, where every science 
 is taught, and all the fountains of knowledge are 
 disclosed.' 
 
 As he spake these words, the saQ:e led the way ; 
 and Abudah, somewhat recovered from his hurry 
 and confusion, said within himself: — 'O Prophet, 
 how blindly have I wandered ! yet here, surely, 
 among these springs of knowledge and learning, is 
 the talisman of Oromanes to be discovered !' 
 
 Abudah arriving with the sage at the end of the 
 valley, beheld the mansions of Philosophy. A 
 grand portico first presented itself to his view, built 
 after the model of the Grecian architecture j to 
 this, with the sage, he ascended by a grand flight 
 of steps, and, entering the doors of the inner 
 portico, found himself in a spacious hall. ' Here,' 
 said the sage, ' must even kings remain, till the 
 director of this seat of learning is acquainted with 
 the arrival of a stranger, and his motives for seek- 
 ing entrance into the sacred college of science.' 
 
 ' Give then, this message,' answered Abudah, 
 'to your director: that the Sultan of Tasgi, (for 
 Abudah's penitence had not entirely humbled his 
 pride,) studious of knowledge, seeks, in this phi- 
 losophic scat, to find the talisman of the perfect 
 Oromanes.' 
 
 The sage, after having made obeisance to the 
 supposed Sultan, went in quest of the director, and 
 left Abudah in the hall, vv-here were many other 
 candidates for admission into the college of Phi- 
 losophy, and each had his particular sage, or intro- 
 ducer. 
 
 Abudah's instructor shortly returned- — ' Our 
 director,' said he, ' rejoices to fiud so great a 
 monarch studious of truth, and bids me declare, 
 (as is customary that the talisman of Oromanes
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. (.5 
 
 i? the ultimate end of all our researches, and 
 tlierefore invites the Sultan of Tasgi to seek it, in 
 whatever science he thinks most likely to contain 
 it. But,' added the sage, ' happily for the Sultan 
 of Tasgi, he has met with Abraharad, who can 
 unfold to him the secrets of nature, and teach him 
 in what recesses the talisman of Oromanes is 
 enclosed.' 
 
 'And are you, then,' answered Abudah/the re- 
 nowned Abraharad, whom my subjects of Tasgi 
 have often described to me as the man who knew 
 the properties of all herbs and roots, and the 
 minerals of all the earth V 
 
 'These, O prince,' replied Abraharad, ' are the 
 plainest precepts of nature : but I will unfold to 
 thee such of her secrets as none, since the mag- 
 nificent Solomon, have been allowed to view ; for 
 what was Oromanes, the founder of this talisman, 
 but the magician of Fire, the great alchymist of 
 the first and most powerful element ? However, I 
 will not waste your time in words, when 1 can 
 work wonders to convince you. Descend then, () 
 prince, with me, into the area of this inner building, 
 in which every science has its separate offices and 
 apartments ; and I will bring you to the know- 
 ledge of the inmost secrets of nature and art.' 
 
 Abudah, rejoicing in his new acquaintance, 
 followed Abraharad into an extensive court, 
 surrounded by porticos, in each of which he be- 
 held several sages teaching their respective dis- 
 ciples. 
 
 Abraharad led Abudah to the portico of his 
 own science, where many were busied in the various 
 branches of his art. — ' Even in this vestibule,' said 
 Abraharad, 'could I surprise the Sultan of Tasgi; 
 but I lead him at once to the mysteries of science.* 
 So saying, he opened a door tliat led to an inner 
 
 F
 
 CG THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 apartment; and, Abudah entering, the alchymist 
 closed the door of his laboratory. 
 
 While Abudah's attention was diverted by the 
 variety of instruments and apparatus which he 
 beheld in this raimic shop of nature, the alchymist 
 began to order his materials, and set them in fur- 
 naces ; compounding salts, and earths, and spirits, 
 and varying his experiments according as he saw 
 occasion. 
 
 * Patience and perseverance, Sultan,' said 
 Abraharad, 'are the tools of an alchymist; with- 
 out these he could not work, as hidden causes so 
 often vary and perplex his operations. The secret 
 which I am now preparing is what gave the great 
 Demogorgon power to dissolve all nature ; but, as 
 it is a tedious process, and the furnace as yet gives 
 but the third degree of fire, I will show you what 
 great effects lie hidden in the meanest causes, that 
 you may conquer the prejudices which custom may 
 have rooted in your mind against any particular 
 modifications of matter : for, the whole earth th;.t 
 you view is one confusion of materials, out of 
 which, by separation, conjunction, assimilation, 
 unity or disjunction, may every appearance of na- 
 ture, and many which she had never discovered, be 
 formed. You see the seed drawing to itself atoms, 
 capable of forming wood, and various fruits: from 
 thisseemingly tasteless earth, arises first the harsh, 
 and then the sour, and lastly, the luscious grape, 
 concocted, meliorated, and perfected, in these dif- 
 ferentstages,bythesubtleali:hymy of thesun. You 
 see, in others, the bitter, the salt, the tart and 
 the sweet, all drawn from the same earthly bed or 
 well : so likewise, O Sultan, is the generation of all 
 things ; the semen is a kind of standard which 
 marshals each under its particular banner. Now, 
 as these are all, by affections and sympathies of
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 67 
 
 size or quality, naturally led by these causes to 
 conjunction and unity, so also have they ail 
 aversions, that is to say, particles discordant, which 
 are capable of separating them, whereby their 
 ♦cohesion, unity, and substance, is destroyed, and 
 they themselves are rendered discontinuous and 
 resolvable into their first principles of rude atoms ; 
 thus, what we call corruption, is really no more 
 than a new modification of matter, which, accord- 
 ing as it is agreeable to our senses and perceptions, 
 we call by names, conveying agreeable or disagree- 
 able ideas : thus the ferment of the grape we call 
 a making, or creation of wine : and the ferment of 
 vegetables, which resolve themselves to a kind of 
 muck or manure, we call putrefaction, though they 
 are begun by one and the same process in nature : 
 80 again, the change of an egg into one livinar 
 animal, or bird, we call breeding ; but the change of 
 another, by staleness, into a thousand maggots, we 
 call corruption. But yet, whatever may be our 
 notions and ideas, they are never lost or destroyed 
 materially, though they are formally : all returns 
 to the common bed of nature, and there lies dor- 
 mant, till called forth by sufficient causes into dif- 
 ferent forms. 
 
 • Hence it is, O Sultan, that the alchymist, 
 taking this universal bed as the ground-work of the 
 science, and acting, as nature does, by the force of 
 the nobler and more vivifying elements, teaches 
 mankind the powers of separation and composition ; 
 and hence, he is able to proceed or move backward 
 in his work, and can either stop, reduce or drive 
 forward, the matter which he guides. Thus, Sul- 
 tan, you perceive those two bottles of transparent 
 liquors ; you see, by mixing them, they instantly 
 change and become red : so the sinail plant which 
 you set in water, though "ed by that element only,
 
 OS THE TALISMAN OF OROJIANES; 
 
 produces green leaves. Now these waters may 
 again be rendered transparent by other mixtures, 
 may be disunited, and reduced to their former 
 state ; or, by other additions, you see I render 
 them blue, or black, or green, or yellow ; yet alP 
 these beautiful colours and phenomena are caused 
 by a few common and natural causes.' 
 
 Abraharad then ordered the laboratory to ba 
 darkened, and immediately the Sultan beheld, 
 among vivid flashes, this writing in fire upon tl:e 
 walls : — * The Sultan of Tasgl shall be satisfied.' 
 At this sight, Abudah was transported : whereupon 
 Abraharad said: — ' Sultan, let not appearances 
 either slacken, or too rashly inspireyour researches : 
 this luminous appearance is natural, drawn from 
 the most refuse of materials, and may serve to con- 
 vince you that wonders lie hidden in the most dis- 
 agreeable formations of matter. — But I see the 
 colour? arising in the furnace, all that is bright to 
 the eye ! What flashes of red, blue, green, yellow, 
 purple, and white, arise from ray work ! brightpr, 
 O Sultan, than the rubies or the emeralds of thine 
 empire' 
 
 Abudah looked at the furnace, and saw the 
 most glorious colours arise from the crucibles of 
 Abraharad. 
 
 'These,' continued the sage, ' are signs that my 
 universal menstruum is near perfection : and now 
 all nature will be open before me.' 
 
 ' What !' answered Abudah, ' is the mixture 
 you are making in the furnace an universal dis- 
 solvent V 
 
 ' Yes,' said Abraharad, ' it is.' 
 
 'Then,' replied Abudah, ' the talisman of Oro- 
 manes will soon be my own.' 
 
 ' It mny possibly/ resumed the sage, * require 
 some time to seek out where it is dr-positcd.'
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 69 
 
 * That,' said Abudah, * I know ; for it is inclosed 
 in the iron chest which you saw me sitting upon 
 riuder the rock, which has hitherto resisted every 
 application of force or art.' 
 
 ' Hast thou then, O royal Sultan,' cried Abraha- 
 rad, ' the chest of adamant, with fifty locks, said 
 to contain that precious jewel, that philosophic 
 talisman, which can give life, immortality, riches, 
 honour, and happiness to the possessor? — But see, 
 my work is finished : the blueish vapour arises, and 
 my menstruum, the key of nature, is completed. 
 Let us then hasten with it to this chest, and release 
 the treasures of my royal Sultun.' 
 
 ' Rather,' replied Abudah, 'will I go and bring 
 it here, which, by its virtues, I am able to perform; 
 and Abraharad shall exercise his authority over 
 this stubborn matter, and reduce it to its former 
 atoms.' 
 
 Abudah, then leaving the sage, returned to his 
 chest, and, seating himself thereon, was at a wish, 
 conveyed with his treasure into the laboratory. 
 
 The sage Abraharad, having viewed the chest 
 with rapture, took out his crucible, full of the 
 universal menstruum. 
 
 ' Alas !' said Abudah, ' O sage, be not deceived. 
 Can that which dissolves every thing be confined by 
 a crucible ?' 
 
 The sage grew pale at the Merchant's reproof ; 
 and, with the utmost vexation, threw his men- 
 struum on the ground, where the harmless liquor 
 continued, without altering itself, or the earth that 
 supported it. 
 
 ' Alas !' said Abudah, * where now is alchymy V 
 
 ' I have a cold fusion,' answered Abraharad, 
 ' though a hot one is denied me ; for I will send 
 the lightning, which melts the sword, and leaves 
 the scabbard unhurt, through that stubborn piece of 
 mechanism.'
 
 70 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES; . 
 
 A new apparatus being now fixed, the sparks 
 and flashes began to issue through the sides of the 
 adamant ; and Abraharad, exulting, and impatient 
 to hasten the effect of his mimic lightning, stepped 
 nearer to the chest ; when the flash, altering its 
 course, drove violently through the temples of the 
 sage Abraharad, and reduced him to ashes. 
 
 At this dreadful catastrophe, Abudah, whose 
 hopes were raised to the highest pitch, ran out of 
 the laboratory with frantic wildness, and filled the 
 area with his groans and complaints. Here, as he 
 wandered about, tormented by passion and disap- 
 pointment, a sage, with a steady and composed 
 mien, advanced from one of the porticos toward 
 him, and, with great seeming unconcern, said : — 
 ' O wretch, why will you neglect the possession of 
 the talisman of Oromanes, which it is in your 
 power to enjoy !' 
 
 'Canst thou assure me of that?' answered Abu- 
 dah,' in transports. 
 
 ' I can assure you,' replied the sage, ' that you 
 are, at present, incapable of making use of it.' 
 
 ' And therefore it is, I suppose,' said Abudah, 
 * that I am thus for ever deceived, when 1 think it 
 within my grasp V 
 
 ' It is even so,' answered the sage. 
 
 ' Then teach me, O friendly sage,' rejoined the 
 Merchant, ' how I may come to the true enjoyment 
 of this valuable treasure.' 
 
 * Must not happiness,' said the sage, ' be seated 
 in the mind ?' 
 
 ' It must, it must,' replied Abudah, ' and I have 
 neglected my mind, to search for it among bodily 
 enjoyments. O what a new scene have you, O 
 greatest of sages, opened to my view ! But proceed, 
 6 heavenly instructor, and perfect the cure you 
 have begun.'
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 71 
 
 *Cool and moderate your grief this night,' 
 answered the sage Gherar : ' and to-morrow, if I 
 find you dispassionate, I will unmask your mind, 
 which at present is beset by worldly objects.' Thus 
 saying, the sage Gherar introduced Abudah among 
 his scholars, and provided him apartments in his 
 portico. 
 
 Early thenextmorning, thesage Gherar attended 
 Abudah, and led him forth towards the valley that 
 fronted the building dedicated to science and 
 instruction. 
 
 ' How delightful,' said Gherar, ' are the sweet 
 dews that are again rising at the call of the morn- 
 ing sun ! The groves seem, like man, refreshed by 
 the silence of the night ; the grass is capable, by 
 this relief from nature, to stand against the fiery 
 beams of the noon.' 
 
 'It is indeed,' answered Abudah, 'a glorious 
 morning, and looks more like a new creation, than 
 a scene which has already lasted such numberless 
 ages. O, how happily might man spend his days in 
 such sweet retirements! no cares to molest him; 
 no storms to beat upon him ; no human desolations 
 to suffer from !' 
 
 * Such,' answered Gherar, 'are the dreams of 
 folly, and the conceits of infirmity : conscious of 
 your weakness, I led you to this scene, in order to 
 convince you how incapable you are of happiness: 
 if the brightness of the sun, and the vapours of the 
 morning, can so aff'ect you with pleasure, the want 
 of them will be painful unto you. In these grati- 
 fications the soul is totally passive, and must be 
 fed by the senses : thus she is taught to rejoice at 
 the wanton touches of a finger ; at the tickling of 
 a luxurious palate ; at the odours of a fading flower ; 
 at the sounding undulations of the circumambient 
 air ; or, at the accidental objects that play upon 
 the eyes of a trifling, circumscribed animal.
 
 t.L THE TALISMAN OF OKOMASES; 
 
 * But the purity and immortality of the soul 
 teach the philosopher to govern the corruptions of 
 the flesh, and not to suffer the body to be the 
 master of the mind; the momentary pleasures or 
 evils of life are alike indifferent to him, who, 
 conscious of his perfections, and complete in his 
 own virtues and immortality,- can smile amidst 
 the horrors of dissolving nature, and preserve a 
 firmness and indifference, when even the whole 
 earth is crumbhng to its original chaos : and if 
 these things affect not his self-fortified breast, how 
 little will he regard the common accidents and 
 vexations of life! If he drops a limb, his immortal 
 part is nevertheless unimpaired ; if he suffers hun- 
 ger, still hii mind is fed with never-failing plea- 
 sures ; if power throw its arbitrary chains around 
 iiim, his soul is still free, and can mock the tyrant's 
 rage, and defy his malice. In short, O Abudah, 
 the true philosopher is capable of every pleasure, 
 and released from every ill : the beauty of virtue 
 has eternal charms for his contemplation and pos- 
 session ; the changes of mortality have nothing that 
 can move, transport, or disquiet him; he neither 
 hopes nor fears ; he neither admires nor dreads; 
 and always wears within his breast a contentment 
 more invariable, and unshaken, than all the trea- 
 sures upon earth, because nothing earthly can 
 disquiet him.' 
 
 As the sage Gherar spoke these words, with a 
 heart-felt pride, Abudah, transported with his doc- 
 trines, was about to answer; when a fierce tiger 
 bursting from the thicket, with his eyes flashing 
 dreadful fires, and a mouth begrimed with human 
 gore, sprang violently towards the sage and his 
 pupil. Abudah, who had not so entirely forgotten 
 his worldly wisdom as to stand perfectly undaunted, 
 leaped into the brook ihat divided the vale, and
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 73 
 
 swam across, as knowing the tiger would not follow 
 him through the water. Having reached the 
 opposite bank, he looked towards the sage Gherar, 
 whom he saw running, with the utmost precipita- 
 tion, before the voracious tiger : but his flight was 
 in vain ; the monster overtook him, and, leaping 
 upon the sage, tore him limb from limb, while 
 Gherar tilled the woods and the valleys with his 
 piteous cries and lamentations. 
 
 ' Alas !' sighed the Merchant Abudali, as he be- 
 held the wretched end of Gherar, ' how vain is it 
 for weakness to boast of strength ; or for man, who 
 is infirm, to deny the reality of what he must 
 hourly feel ! To boast of a power over nature is, I 
 see, the end of philosophy, which should only with 
 wonder contemplate what it cannot scan ; much 
 less ought the reptile man to vaunt itself superior 
 to the blessings or scourges of Him who is the ruler 
 of the universe.' 
 
 With these reflections, Abudah arose ; and, being 
 fearful to venture on the other side of the brook, he 
 advanced up a lawn, which, winding between two 
 mountains, brought the Merchant into a spacious 
 plain, where he beheld innumerable flocks feeding 
 upon its surface, and shepherds and shepherdesses 
 tending their innocent charge. — ' Here,' said Abu- 
 dah to himself, ' here is neither pomp, nor luxury, 
 nor vanity; here is rural peace, and quietness, and 
 tranquillity, which know no sorrow.' 
 
 As thus Abudah mused with himself, he advanced 
 towards the shepherds and their flocks ; when one 
 passing near him immediately ran, with the utmost 
 precipitation, among the rest, crying aloud : ' Fly, 
 fly, O my wandering and distressed friends; for the 
 tyrant of Tasgi, not content with driving us out 
 from the land of Shakarah, is come down to bereave 
 us also of our flocks and herds 1'
 
 74 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 Abudali was touched to the soul at this scene of 
 distress and confusion, which his former passions 
 had occasioned, and called to the poor wanderers 
 to stay ; but they, fearful, and lamenting, drove 
 their flocks along the plain, and with dread looked 
 back, expecting to see again the cruel armies of the 
 Tasgites. 
 
 One old, venerable bramin alone, unable through 
 age to follow the Shakarahs,whom he had for many 
 years instructed, sat, with a majestic composure, on 
 a square stone, which stood at the entrance of his 
 cell. As Abudah advanced, he rose, and made 
 obeisance, saying : ' Know, O Sultan, I rise not to 
 the tyrant of Tasgi; but I bow before him whom 
 it hath pleased Alia to set over his people. But 
 wherefore shouldest thou seek to do evil, that tliou 
 mayest reap good ? Are then bad actions capable 
 of salutary ends ; and is evil predominant, that 
 purity may triumph ? Alas, O Sultan ! not such 
 are the means of obtaining the talisman of the 
 great and perfect Oromanes : purity and perfection, 
 such as man may attain unto, true virtus and be- 
 nevolence, and a faithful religion, are the means 
 of possessing the treasure. — Hasten, therefore, O 
 man, to the tomb of the Prophet, and there confess 
 the follies and iniquities of thy researches; and 
 learn from that fountain of purity and truth, the 
 will of Him who ordained you to this hitherto 
 ineffectual toil.' 
 
 ' Good and pious bramin,' replied Abudah, 
 * much have I abused both the gifts of Providence 
 and you, and your poor innocent and distressed 
 nation : but direct me in my journey to Mecca, for 
 I seem hitherto to have trodden on enchanted 
 ground.' 
 
 ' The chest of adamant will convey you to Mecca,' 
 answered the bramin.
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 75 
 
 ' I left it/ replied Abudah, ' in the mansions of 
 Philosophy, which may not be found without cross- 
 ing the brook, and risking the fury of the tiger.' 
 
 ' There is,' answered the bramin, ' a path that 
 leads hence, round the brook, to the back of that 
 mansion, into which a small bridge will carry you 
 over the brook : and may Mahomet prosper your 
 undertaking.' 
 
 Abudah then took leave of the sage, assuring hira 
 that the Tasgites knew not of his place of retreat; 
 and that he might rest with the Shakarahs safely 
 there, for no evil was intended them. The bramim 
 blessed Abudah as he parted. 
 
 The Sultan-Merchant hastened to the seminaries 
 of learning; where, taking possession of the chest, 
 he threw himself on it, in full assurance that he 
 should awake in the temple of Mecca. 
 
 In a short time, the Merchant Abudah found 
 himself in an awful mosque, reclining on the chest 
 of adamant : on one side stood the box which used 
 to haunt his chamber with the diminutive hag ; 
 and, on the other, a large cistern of water. In a 
 moment, with mildness in his aspect, stood the 
 Genius Barhaddan before him. 
 
 ' At length,' said he, * Abudah, receive the true 
 keys of the adamantine chest.' 
 
 At these words, the Merchant Abudah approached 
 the Genius; and, having prostrated himself before 
 him, received the long-expected keys. 
 
 ' Begin,' said Barhaddan, 'O Abudah, and search 
 for thy treasure.' Abudah obeyed ; and in a mo- 
 ment the locks of the chest flew open. 
 
 Abudah, with a consciousness and dread, lifted 
 up the lid of the chest; when instantly flew out a 
 thousand feathers, so that they covered the whole 
 pavement of the mosque. 
 
 ' Now,' continued Barhaddan, ' put in thine
 
 76 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 hand, and draw forth the contents of the chest. 
 Abudah obeyed ; and first he took up a beautiful, 
 but bleendig hand, with a curious bracelet of dia- 
 monds. 
 
 * That hand,' said Barhaddan, 'was severed 
 from the body of a fair sultana, by a slave, who 
 could not unlock the bracelet. Dost thou think, 
 Abudah, the wearer was the happier for that orna- 
 ment?' 
 
 As Abudah was going to draw again, out stepped 
 a poor wretch, laden with his bags of gold, trem- 
 bling and looking behind. — Next, on a sudden, a 
 gay youth, with a poniard, stabbed the miser to the 
 heart ; upon which several women, in loose attire, 
 came and shared with him the spoil, and began 
 dancing and singing. — These were followed by a 
 crowd, among whom was a crowned head, who 
 ordered his soldiers to fall on them and destroy 
 them: then came a superior force, and put a bow- , 
 string around the neck of him that was crowned ; 
 and another stripped the crown from his head. 
 — After these, came several madmen; some with 
 wings on their shoulders ; some with wheels, which 
 they strove always to keep u motion ; some look- 
 ing unto the skies, some drawing circles in the air 
 with straws, some jabbering ridiculous notions, 
 that the same quantity was both more or less than 
 itself. 
 
 When these were passed, Barhaddan asked Abu- 
 dah, ' Dost thou understand these things?' 
 
 '■ I understand by them, ' answered the Merchant, 
 ' (and also by my travels), that neither riches, nor 
 gaiety, nor honour, nor power, nor science, nor 
 learning, nor obscurity, is free from the common 
 accidents of life ; und that, therefore, these can 
 never lead us to the perfect talisman of Oronianes.' 
 
 'What didst thou understand by the feathers?' 
 said Barhaddan.
 
 OK, THE MERCHANT ABDDAII. 77 
 
 * I knew not their meaning,' answered Abudah. 
 
 ' They,' continued the Genius Barhaddan, ' were 
 the thousand light, airy, inconsistent hopes and 
 wishes, wliich lie on the top of every man's heart; 
 wliichhave some kind of tendency to the talisman, 
 and so they are the first on the top of the cliest.' 
 
 * And now, O Merchant Abudah,' said Barhad- 
 dan, ' art thou convinced that the talisman of 
 Oromanes could not be treasured among such refuse 
 as these? Shut down, therefore, the chest; and 
 attend with silence to the scene which will follow.' 
 — Abudah obeyed, standing like a mute with his 
 hands before him. 
 
 ^ Now, thou wicked hag,' said Barhaddan, ' thou 
 evil genius, who lovest to torment and mislead 
 mankind, come forth.' At these words, the little 
 box fell to pieces, and the hag came trembling out 
 on her crutclies before Barhaddan. 
 
 * 1 know,' said the pure Genius, ' thy implacable 
 nature, and that thou delightest only in mischief 
 and evil ; but, that you may have some awe for 
 those who regard mankind, stand here, and see me 
 purge the man whom thou hast enslaved with 
 worldly thoughts and desires.' 
 
 Barhaddan then commanded Abudah to wash 
 himself in the cistern ; which having performed, 
 he ordered him a second time to open the chest of 
 adamant. — Abudah obeying, looked in, and saw 
 only a little book, which Barhaddan bade him read, 
 and he read these words aloud : — 
 
 ' Know, O man, that human nature, which is 
 imperfect, cannot attain to perfection : that true 
 happiness, which is the real talisman of Oromanes, 
 being immortal, can be enjoyed by immortals 
 alone : that man, being a creature, is subject to 
 the commands of his Creator; and, therefore, a 
 knowledge of His will, and a faithful obedience
 
 78 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES ; 
 
 to it, should be the first and last pursuit of 
 mortality, till it may please the Eternal Power to 
 remove him from tri&l to perfection, from earthly 
 misery to the eternal happiness of a glorious 
 paradise.' 
 
 As he ended these words, Abudah fell prostrate 
 in the mosque, and adored the Eternal Power 
 above ; which the Genius seeing, commended him. 
 
 Then Barhaddan, turning to the hag; — 'Go,' 
 said he, ' false and wicked Genius, into that chest, 
 and there, for fifty yeais contemplate the happiness 
 thou art so anxious to recommend.' — The hag 
 trembled and obeyed ; the chest closed with vio- 
 lence, the locks fastened themselves on, and the 
 whole was taken up like a whirlwind, and vanished 
 away. 
 
 Abudah then looked around to thank the friendly 
 Genius ; but he was gone : and, what surprised him 
 more, he found himself on his bed at Bagdat, and 
 his wife and family weeping around him. As he 
 moved, Selima in transport ran to him, and asked 
 him if the life were in him ? 
 
 ' In me!' said Abudah ; ' why, woman, I have 
 been travelling these three n^onths : I have seen 
 various countries and kingdoms , I have (but would 
 I had not i) been crowned a Sultan !' 
 
 ' O,' interrupted Selima, 'my lord raves again. 
 Thy children and servants know, O Abudah ! that 
 for four days thou hast slept upon this sofa, and we 
 feared thou wert dead.' 
 
 * Is what I have seen, then, a dream ?' cried the 
 Merchant Abudah : •' then blessed be the Prophet, 
 who has added unto me knowledge without guilt ! 
 But now, my lovely Selima,' said Abudah, ' I am 
 released from those terrors and uneasinesses, which 
 have made me a burthen to thee and myself. 
 Yes, Selima, I have learned to be content; the 
 utmost man must expect upon earth : and I have
 
 OR, THE MERCHANT ABUDAH. 79 
 
 learned to be obedient to Alia, to love and clierldh 
 my family, and to do good to mankind.' 
 
 At these words, he again embraced his wife and 
 children ; and the day was spent in decent endear- 
 ments: nor lived there a happier or more resigned 
 and cheerful family in Bagdat than in the house of 
 the Merchant Abudah. 
 
 When the Genius Barhaddan had finished his 
 tale, Iracagem arose from his throne, and humbled 
 himself before him ; then, turning to tbe august 
 assembly, he thus addressed the pupils of his im- 
 mortal race: — 
 
 ' Hear, O ye reptiles, whose life is a span, and 
 whose habitation is as tbe dust in the whirlwind ; 
 who look towards the earth, aiid see not below the 
 sand that covers it; and to the heavens, but the 
 cloud intervetieth, and darkcneth your search ; 
 seek not for durable joys in a world of vicissitude; 
 nor for happiness which a moment shall alter, as 
 the sea-breeze blots out the writing of a child on 
 the sand ! The eye which is mortal cannot see that 
 which is unchangeable; neither can the taste of 
 man be satisfied with variety. Wait tben, ye sons 
 of clay, with patience, till ye be translated into 
 the gardens of ever-living pleasures, into palaces 
 which moulder not with the storm, into mansions 
 which time must for ever admire; and know, t! at 
 happiness is with Mahomet an<l Alia, and tliat the 
 talisman of Oromanes is, — to love God, and to obey 
 his commandments. 
 
 ' Thanks, gentle Barhaddan,' continued Iraca- 
 gem : ' thanks be to thy industry and care : well 
 hast thou inculcated the lessons of morality, and 
 the doctrines of truth. — Say then, my noble 
 brother,' said Iracagem to Mamlouk, ' where has 
 Mamlouk been employed in the service of man- 
 kind r 
 
 ' To teach the doctrines of truth,' replied Mam-
 
 80 THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES; 
 
 lo\ik, ' has been the endeavour of Mamlouk: how 
 I have succeeded, learn from the tale of the Der- 
 vise Alfouran.' 
 
 TALE II. 
 The Bervise Alfouran. 
 
 Alfouran, by the sanctity of his manners, and 
 the abstemiousness of his diet, had gained the 
 hearts of the whole province of Eyraca : but none 
 was more captivated with the holy Dervise than 
 Sanballad, the son of a merchant in Bassora, whose 
 father intended to bring him up in the mercantile 
 business, wliich he himself professed. 
 
 The hermitage of Alfouran was situated in a 
 wood, near the suburbs of the city : it was formed 
 out of a stupendous rock, in the inside of a moun- 
 tain ; and contained two cells, the outermost of 
 which served for the common purposes of life, and 
 the innermost was set apart for the private devo- 
 tions and religious ceremonies of the sanctified 
 Dervise. 
 
 A small spring, which ran trickling down the 
 rock, supplied him with the purest water, and fell 
 into a basin, which the industrious Alfouran had 
 scooped out of the bottom of the rock, from which 
 the water overflowing, descended in a gentle rill to 
 the wood, and ran purling among the trees ; some- 
 times discovering itself by its glittering surface, 
 and soiBCtimes gliding imperceptibly through the 
 thickest bushes which grew upon its banks. A 
 little plain opened before the door of the cell, 
 which by the shape of the lofty trees that sur- 
 rounded it, and tlie constant attention of the sa^e 
 to sprinkle its surface, ever })reserved a most bi au- 
 tiful verdure. The tall and straight cedais and 
 palms which overshadowed this delightful retreat,
 
 THE DERVISE ALFOURAN. 81 
 
 at once secured it from the scorching sun, and af- 
 forded a most beautiful and majestic appearance, 
 mixed with an awful solemnity, which struck the 
 heart, and demanded the reverence of every be- 
 holder. 
 
 To this habitation of Alfouran did thousands 
 resort, at the rising of the sun, to hear the instruc- 
 tions of his mouth, and dwell upon the sweet ac- 
 cents of his persuasive tongue; even the labours of 
 the day were forgotten while he charmed their 
 ears ; and the poorest subjects of Bassora refused 
 not to follow the sage Alfouran, though the work 
 of their hands was neglected and undone. 
 
 The pious Sanballad was ever a constant at- 
 tendant at these captivating lectures, and drank 
 deep of the instructions of the Uervjse of Bassora. 
 His soul was animated by the example of the self- 
 denying sage : he scorned the mean employments 
 of a dirty world, and sought earnestly to bury 
 himself in the glorious solitude of Aifouran. 
 
 One day, after the Dervise had been exhorting 
 his hearers to trouble themselves no longer with the 
 concerns of life, nor the transactions of mortality, 
 Sanballad presented himself before him, and 
 having done obeisance to the holy man, he entreated 
 Alfouran to initiate him into the mysteries of his 
 happy life. 
 
 Alfouran looked earnestly at the youth ; he be- 
 held his con)plexion, his modest beauties, his eyes 
 streaming with penitential tears, and his heaif 
 heaving with the full sighs of sorrow and con- 
 trition. — * And canst thou, O young man,' said the 
 Dervise, 'leave the vanities of this life, to spend in 
 solitude and abstemiousness the sprightly hours of 
 youth ? Canst thou quit all worldly connexions, 
 thy friends, thy relations, thy engagements, thy 
 business, and thy pleasures, and prefer before them 
 
 G
 
 82 THE DEKVISE ALFOURAX. 
 
 tlie constant conipony of an aged Dervise? Tf 
 thou art resolved, let me first have a trial of thy 
 faith and submission. Ascend this craggy rock by 
 the steps which I have hewn in its side, and sit on 
 the stone which is dedicated, on its surface, to the 
 pure solar Fire. Tbcre remain while the sun melts 
 Jliee by d.-'v, ;ind the cold pinches thee by night, 
 till three days are accomplished ; and I will bring 
 thee of the choicest viands which the rich men «>f 
 Bassora send daily to tempt my appetite ; of 
 which if thou tasteth, or to which if thou dost in- 
 cline thy mind, the curse of the god of Fire be upon 
 thee !' 
 
 At this command, Sanballad arose with joyful 
 ]ool-:s, and began to ascend the holy mountain. 
 
 He spent the first day in a solemn silence, not 
 daring even to look uj) or move from his posture • 
 but kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and in seen t 
 implored the strengthening assistance of the 
 Fo'mrlerof hi'' faith. 
 
 The second day, Alfonran set before him a 
 sumptuous banquet, which his disciples, at his 
 command, had brought him from the city : for it 
 was daily the custmi of Alfouran to receive such 
 [iresents at their hanris; — not, as he said, for his 
 own use, but to fix him steadfastly in his forbear- 
 ance from these pampering repasts. They stood 
 every day exposed on a table formed out of the 
 living rock in his cell ; and at noon the Dervise 
 a«cenf!(d the hill, to burn them at the holy fire, 
 which he kindled from the sun. — Sanballad looked 
 not at t! e tempting viands till Alfonran com- 
 manded him, and then persisted relitriously in his 
 resolutions whi'h wlipu the Dervise perceived, he 
 extolled his f:.ith. and exhorted him to continue 
 obedient to tl.c instructions he had received. 
 
 The third day, the poor youth was nt^arly ex-
 
 THE DERVISE ALFOURAN. 83 
 
 hausted with watching aud fatigue : nevertheless, 
 Alfouran endeavoured, by the most artful tempta- 
 tions, to draw him from his purpose, but in vain; 
 the pious Sanballad triumphed over his tempta- 
 tions, and at length fulfilled his commands. 
 
 Being now partly initiated, tlie Dervise, after 
 having fed him, conducted him down from the 
 mountain to the cell beneath j and, leaving him 
 for some time to rest and refreshment, he alone- 
 ascended with his daily offerings to the altar of 
 Fire. 
 
 In this act of devotion Alfouran continued the 
 remainder of the day ; during which time, San- 
 ballad heard the most ravishing music, which 
 seemed to descend through the mountain, and 
 filled the cells with its enchanting harmony. 
 
 And thus was the Dervise's time divided : — In 
 the morning he preached to the multitude, whilst 
 the careful Sanballad received their offerings, and 
 laid them on the stone table in the eel!. At noon 
 the Dervise ascended with the offerings, and the 
 young man was ordered to pursue his private devo- 
 tions in the innermost cell ; and was taught to ex- 
 pect those heavenly sounds, if his prayers were 
 accepted. When the sun left the horizon, Alfouran 
 descended to the plain, where Sanballad spread 
 some roots on the turf by the spring, and the Der- 
 vise and his scholar made their single and abste- 
 mious meal. 
 
 The young Dervise was enraptured at the 
 precepts and sanctity of his master: and the 
 inhabitants of Bassora brought daily their riches, 
 and fine vestments, and delicacies, that Alfouran 
 nii^ht sacrifice those unworthy objects of their 
 affection on the altar of the Sun. 
 
 Nor were the prayci's of Sanballad rejected, for 
 he daily obtained a grateful token from the powers
 
 8-t THE DERTISE ALFOURAN. 
 
 he worslilpped, and was charmed with the heavenly 
 music which sounded through the roclc. 
 
 In this manner did Alfouran and his pupil dedi- 
 cate their time to the invincible powers of Fire, till 
 the whole city of Bassora was converted to the 
 religion of the Dervise ; and, neglecting their 
 trade, they all flocked regularly to imbibe the 
 instructions of his lips. 
 
 But what, even in the midst of his sanctity, 
 preyed upon the heart of Sanballad was, that liis 
 master Alfouran did not suffer him to ascend the 
 mountain. When he asked the Dervise the reason 
 why he was denied that holy office ? — Alfouran 
 would answer : — ' Know, O young man, that he 
 only is fit to make such a sacrifice, who, by long 
 and patient abstemiousness, has sanctified his mind, 
 and purged it from the desires of mortality. No, 
 Sanballad ; you must serve a longer term of years, 
 and persist in your religion for many suns, ere you 
 be admitted to that, the greatest and noblest work 
 of man : wait, therefore, with submission ; and 
 doubt not, but, when thou art accepted, the deity 
 of Fire will call thee to his service.' 
 
 If Sanballad's impetuous desires to serve, like 
 Alfouran, in the cell of the worshipper of Fire, 
 could drivehim, against the inclinations and com- 
 mands of his parents, to act under the banners of 
 Afouran, it is not to be wondered, that ne was now 
 as eager in desiring to be jointly admitted into all 
 the services of his master. 
 
 The bed or resting-place of Sanballad was on the 
 stone table in the outward cell ; Alfouran slept on 
 a floor of flints within. 
 
 It was the hour of midnight when Sanballad, 
 still revolving his favourite desires in his mind, 
 heard the wind rustle through the Qrove; the moon 
 I>layed on the surface of the water, in the basin
 
 THE DERVISE ALFOURAN. 85 
 
 which stood without :— when on a sudden, Sanballad 
 seemed to discern at the door of the cell the figure 
 of a little old man : he immediately endeavoured to 
 cry out to Alfouran : but he found his tongue cleave 
 to the roof of his mouth. 'Ihe little tigure ad- 
 vanced, and stood before the astonished and mo- 
 tionless Sanballad. 
 
 ' I am,' said the spectre, ' the good Genius 
 which presides over thy wayward fate.— Alfouran, 
 this very night, did meditate thy death, and in- 
 tended to sacrifice thee to his bai barons god. You 
 are, young man, too inquisitive for this mysterious 
 religion, which requires a blind and unsuspicious 
 faith : but, in compassion to thy youth, and being 
 willing to vindicate the truth of thy much-injured 
 Prophet, I have taken this opportunity, while 
 Alfouran is in his first sleep, to warn thee of thy 
 danger. I must not assist thee farther ; for the 
 impostor possesses the signet of the Genius Nadoc, 
 which he stole from a bramin of the most exalted, 
 piety. But if thou art resolute, go fearless into 
 his cell, and boldly thrust thy hand into his bosom 
 where it ever lies concealed. If thou canst but for 
 a moment snatch it from him, thou art safe : for 
 when it is in thy hand, its virtues will be obedient 
 to you its possessor : be confident, therefore, and 
 forget not, when thou hast it in thy hand, to make 
 a proper use of it.' 
 
 ' And how is it to be used?' replied the asto- 
 nished Sanballad. 
 
 ' Wish,' said the Genius, ' for whatever you de- 
 sire, and it will not be denied you. — But hasten, O 
 young man ! for I foresee Alfouran will in a few 
 minutes awake.' 
 
 At this exhortation, Sanballad arose from his 
 bed, and entered into the cell of the treacherous 
 Alfouran. He felt gently for his master, who was
 
 86 TirE DERVISE ALFOURAN. 
 
 stretched upon tlie flints ; and, liaving- found liis 
 bosom, boldly put his hand therein, and felt the 
 signet of the Genius Nadoc ; which he immediately 
 pulled out, and by the furce of his arm awakened 
 the affrighted Dervise. 
 
 Sanballad, seeing Alfouran awake, wished that 
 he had completed his purpose, thiit he might have 
 escaped out of the cell while the Dervise had 
 slept. 
 
 No sooner had Sanballad formed his wish, than 
 Alfouran sunk again into a deep sleep; and the 
 young man, perceiving: the power which the signet 
 of the Genius Nadoc had given him, blessed Ma- 
 homet his prophet, and hastened out of the cell: 
 and on the plain before the door, he met his faith- 
 ful Genius Mamlouk. 
 
 ' I see,' said his instructor, ' thou hast wisely 
 prevailed : and now, O Sanballad, we will together 
 ascend this mountain ; and I will convince thee of 
 the folly of thy worship.' 
 
 Having thus said, Mamlouk led the way, and, 
 having climbed to the altar, on the surface of the 
 mountain, the Genius desired Sanballad to move 
 the altar from its place, 
 
 ' O Mamlouk,' said Sanballad, ' that is far 
 beyond my strength : for when I sat on this stone 
 as a probationer before the Sun, 1 assayed with all 
 my strength to move it and could not.' 
 
 ' That was,' replied Mamlouk, ' because Al- 
 fouran commanded it to continue firm and fixed: 
 but now his power is no more.' 
 
 Sanballad then set his shoulder against the stone, 
 and moved it from its place. The stone being re- 
 moved, discovered a dark winding staircase, cut 
 out of the rock, which descended into the body of 
 the mountain. 
 
 Mamlouk commanded Sanballad to descend, and
 
 THE DERVISE ALFOURAX, 87 
 
 fear not: * For,' said the Genius, 'I will attend 
 you, though invisible, and instruct you in wlmt 
 manner you are to behave : but be resolute in jue- 
 serving the sif^net of the Genius Nadoc' 
 
 Sanballad then hegan to descead the steps, 
 which wound round a solid pillar ot" stone. Auei- 
 he had passed three hundred staiis, ho met with 
 a strong wicket, which he toniuiauded to open; 
 and then continued to pursue his wa.y tliroui^h a dark 
 and close passage, cut out of the living rock. 
 
 At the end of this passage, lie found a door of 
 solid iron, which, at his cuuiinaud, creaked on its 
 hinges, and, opening, presented to his view a large 
 cavern, illuminated in the centre with anenoimous 
 glowing carbuncle. Around this spacious vault 
 hung all the rich and valuable garments, which the 
 deceitful Alfouran had begged from the deluded 
 inhabitants of Bassora, as offerings to his god. 
 
 ' And what,' said Sanballad to his invisible 
 guide, * was the design of Alfouran in collecting 
 these riches, since he never makes any use of 
 them V 
 
 ' Proceed,' said Mamlouk, ' and observe.' 
 
 In one corner of this cavern Sanballad perceived 
 a chasm in the rock, which he immediately com- 
 manded to open ; and which let him through its 
 sides into another passage, wider than the first, sup- 
 ported by pillars, and enlightened with a variety of 
 carbuncles. 
 
 As soon as Sanballad had entered this passage, he 
 heard the sounds of many instruments, playing the 
 most plaintive notes ; and presently, at the lower 
 end, he saw a number of close-veiled matrons 
 marching with solemn steps along the avenues of 
 the passage. 
 
 * May I, O Mamlouk,' said Sanballad, 'wish 
 that these may receive me as they used to receive 
 Alfouran?'
 
 88 THE DERYISE ALFOURAN. 
 
 * Yes/replied Mamlouk,' I find thou hast wished 
 it in thine heart; for they ah'eady begin to ac- 
 knowledge thee.' 
 
 As Mamlouk said this, the matrons all came 
 round Sanballad, some kissing: his hands, some his 
 feet, and others kneeling, and in the highest acts of 
 devotion, touching the skirts of his clothing. 
 
 Thus surrounded, the fictitious Dervise passed to 
 the farther end of the passage, where a spacious 
 portal opened into a gloomy temple, hewn out of a 
 solid rock of adamant : in the centre of this temple 
 was an altar, or hearth, raised from the ground, on 
 which a large fire, fed with oils and aronratic 
 woods, burnt incessantly day and night; and was 
 renewed with all the incense and perfumes which 
 Alfouran had obtained from the deluded inhabitants 
 of Bassora. 
 
 As soon as Sanballad had advanced to the fire, 
 the orgies began. The female votaries worked 
 themselves up into the most frantic fits of enthu- 
 siastic madness, groaning, weeping, lashing them- 
 selves, falling into trances and fits ; till at length, 
 tired and fatigued with their wild religion, they 
 sunk into slumbers round the flame which they had 
 adored. 
 
 ' Xow, Sanballad,' said Mamlouk, 'now must 
 thou be resolute and brave : canst thou resist 
 temptation V 
 
 ' Alas !' replied Sanballad, ' I thought so once ; 
 but it was a vain opinion, arising from a pride of a 
 false religion.' 
 
 ' Your diffidence,' answered the Genius, 'is 
 prudent, and manifests an humble mind: but, as 
 temptation may be too severe for your new-born 
 faith in the Prophet, he has permitted me to per- 
 sonate Alfouran, and carry you invisibly through 
 these mazes of bewitching error.'
 
 THE DERVISE ALFOTTRAN. 89 
 
 Thus saying, Maralouk put on the appearance of 
 Alfouran; and Sanballad, having wished himself 
 invisible, stood beside the metamorphosed Genius. 
 
 Mamloiik then waved his hands on high, and 
 clapped them together in the air.; at the sound of 
 his clapping, the matrons awoke, and the fictitious 
 Alfouran commanded the cup of love to be pro- 
 duced. Fourancient matrons immediately brought 
 forward a large bowl from the innermost parts of 
 the temples, of which the transformed Genius and 
 his females partook. 
 
 No sooner were they replete with this liquor, 
 tharr they began to sing the most indecent songs, 
 and by every gesture manifested the desires of 
 their hearts ; till at length, being worked into a 
 passionate madness, they threw off their clothing, 
 and discovered, under the formal appearance of 
 sanctified matrons, the most abandoned signs of 
 youthful prostitution. 
 
 The Genius, having revealed thus much of the 
 mysteries of Alfouran, tookSanballadby the hand, 
 and led him out of that scene of horror to the top 
 of the mountain. As they arose from the cavern, 
 the beams of the sun began to play upon the east, 
 and tinge the dusky clouds, with its early light. 
 
 ' And who,' said Sanballad to his guide, as they 
 arose, ' who are these abominable wretches?' 
 
 ' They are,' replied Mamlouk, ' weak and deluded 
 women, who have, at different times, stolen in the 
 dead of night from Bassora, to hear the doctrines 
 of the sanctified Alfouran. — But be silent, for 1 
 see on the plains before the city of Bassora, the 
 multitudes approaching to hear and adore the 
 hypocritical Dervise.' 
 
 ' And will Alfouran awake and instruct them V 
 said Sanballad to the Genius. 
 
 ♦ No,' answered Mamlouk, ' the Prophet will not
 
 90 THE DERVISE ALFOURAN. 
 
 longer permit his villanies to remain unexposed. — 
 But let us hasten to meet the credulous followers 
 of Alfouran.' 
 
 Havini^ thus said, Maralouk descended from the 
 hill, and stood before the cell of the Dervise. The 
 crowds gathered round him, for he still personated 
 the form of Alfouran : some blessed him with tears 
 in their eyes, others nearly worshipped the fictitious 
 idol of their affections. 
 
 In the midtit of this ill-placed adoration, Mam- 
 louk lifted up his voice, as though it had been the 
 voice of a whirlwind, and said, in the ears of all 
 the inhabitants of Bassora, — * O deluded idolaters, 
 why have ye left the worship of your Prophet, to 
 follow the lies and fables of the enchanter Alfouran?' 
 
 As the Genius spoke these words, he shook off 
 the appearance of the Dervise, aud shone before 
 them in all the native beauty of his heavenly race. 
 
 The multitude were astonished at the change, 
 and the Genius proceeded : — ' I am Mamlouk, the 
 guardian Genius of your city, which I have with 
 sorrow of late beheld strangely deviating from the 
 worship of the Prophet. The Fates decreed that 
 you should be tempted by Alfouran : he came, 
 therefore, into this grove ; and, under the specious 
 mask of sanctity, gained the hearts of your people, 
 insomuch tliat you neglected the public works of 
 the city, and the social duties which ye owed one 
 to another, and all herded to hear and offer to Al- 
 fouran yourselves and your substance. Alfouran 
 was possessed of the simiet of the Genius Nadoc, 
 by means of which ho has commanded the slaves 
 of that signet to form, in the spacious womb of 
 this mountain, the secret haunts of his wickedness 
 and lust; which I will now disclose unto you.' 
 
 Having so spoken, the Genius commanded San~ 
 ballad to go into the cell, and awaken Alfouran;
 
 THE DETIVISE ALFOURAN. 91 
 
 wliich lie did ; the Dervise tremblinp: as he came 
 forth, from a consciousness of his guilt. 
 
 As soon as the multitude beheld Alfouran, they 
 were so infatuated at his presence, that the luminous 
 appearance of the Genius scarcely withheld them 
 from worshipping and adoring the Dervise ; which 
 when Mamlouk perceived, he said unto them : — 
 ' O inhabitants of Bassora, how vain are my labours 
 to bring ye to Mahomet ! But, ere ye too foolishly 
 refuse to hear the directions of your Prophet, let 
 me expose to your view the entrails of this moun- 
 tain.' 
 
 As he spake these words, the people all looked 
 towards the mountain ; which began to crack and 
 open its sides, tillbydesrreesthe temple and caverns 
 within were made manifest to the wondering popu- 
 lace. 
 
 Out of this nest of lust and intemperance, came 
 the wild females who had so miserably degraded 
 themselves by their lascivious deeds : but how was 
 the misery of their condition heightened, when 
 they beheld such crowds of their neighbours and 
 kinsmen standing as witnesses of their indecent 
 appearance ! 
 
 Nor were the men of Bassora less disgusted, to 
 find, among the private hordes of the lustful Der- 
 vise, their wives and their daughfers, who had been 
 thus polluted by his secret iniquities. 
 
 They were now all resolute in destroying the 
 monster Alfouran from the face of the earth; and 
 so incensed were they against him, that they tor** 
 the saint into ten thousand reliques; and he was 
 most happy who could show most marks of his 
 vengeance on the salacious Dervise. 
 
 Mamlouk, having suffered them to execute their 
 
 engeance on the hypocritical Alfouran, exhorted 
 
 them to follow obediently the law of their Prophet,
 
 92 HISTORY OP HASSAN ASSAR, 
 
 and ever to despise such teachers as should preach 
 up a mysterious, unintelligible, and bidden religion ; 
 or expect that they should blindly give up their 
 substance and social duties, to follow the directions 
 of a sanctified and lustful drone. 
 
 TALE III. 
 
 Hassan Assar ; or the History of the Caliph of 
 Bagdat. 
 
 The royal court of the Caliph Hassan Assar be- 
 held with discontent a long series of gloomy moons. 
 The %-oice of joy, and the smiles of festivity, were 
 banished the palace, by the severe frowns which 
 sat, uninterrupted, on the brow of the Caliph. 
 The barrenness of his spacious seraglio was the 
 cause of his melancholy ; neither the youthful 
 beauties of Circassia, nor the more ripened fruit 
 which his own warmer sun produced, were capable 
 of continuing the race of the Caliphs of Bagdat. 
 
 Omphiam, the tutelary Genius of his kingdom, 
 saw the perverse will of fate, and could not with- 
 stand its decrees; she read in the permanent leaves 
 of that everlasting book, that Hassan Assar would 
 vainly solicit a progeny from Heaven, while he 
 sought after that blessing in the embraces of 
 beauty. Though the day, which as yet had not 
 arisen, was enveloped in the clouds of obscurity, 
 she could still discern the possibility of the con- 
 tinuance of the race of Hassan ; but not the par- 
 ticular manner in which it was to come to pass. 
 
 As Hassan was administering justice in the 
 divan, the throne whereon he sat was violently 
 shaken with the trembling of the earth, the doors 
 of the divan creaked, the lightning poured down 
 through the windows in sheets of fire; and in the 
 midst of the confusion both of earth and air, came
 
 THE CALIPH OP BAGDAT. 93 
 
 Omphram, riding in the tempest which her power 
 had raised. Hassan bowed ather approach ; and, 
 as his heart was unconscious of evil, he regarded 
 not the terrors which surrounded her. 
 
 * Hassan/ said the Genius, ' I perceive you are 
 not to be biassed by the outward aj)pearance of 
 things : knowing that you are only accountable for 
 the actions of your subjects, you look with serenity 
 on this confusion of elements, which it was not in 
 your power to prevent. The same trust which 
 enables you to be thankful in the sunshine of 
 affluence, gives you also confidence in the dan- 
 gerous tempest. Look but as indifferently on all 
 things, and your prayers shall be no longer offered 
 to the unconsenting Prophet. He has heard your 
 petition ; he believes you are solely desirous of 
 perpetuating his seed; and therefore he commands 
 you to dismiss tiie beauties of your seraglio, 
 and to give up your whole life and pleasure to the 
 Houri he has provided for your embrace.' 
 
 As she finished this declaration, the walls of the 
 palace crumbled into their original clay ; the 
 crowds that were gathered in the divan vanished 
 from the sight of the Caliph ; and he saw no longer 
 the flourishing city of Bagdat, but the wild and 
 fanciful productions of unassisted nature. 
 
 The lions in the chariot of Omphram roared to 
 the repeated echoes of the forest ; and the fairy, 
 still observing the courageous Hassan unchanged 
 at his fate, smiled on the Caliph; and bade him 
 persevere in his unshaken trust, and no dangers 
 nor misfortunes should prevent the blessirjgs which 
 the Prophet had engaged to shower upon his race. 
 Although the prospects around him were wild, 
 yet they were beautiful and enchanting. Lofty- 
 trees at a distance, on one side, formed natural 
 temples to the deities of the place ; on the other, 
 the adjacent mountains were partly covered with
 
 9-i HISTORY OF HASSAN ASSAR, 
 
 evergreen and flowering shrubs, which grew 
 irregularly, as a covering, above the craggy sides 
 of the rocks, except where a torrent from the 
 summit had worn out a hollow bed for its rapid 
 passage and descent. In the vale beneath, a 
 spacious lake divided the ancient groves from the 
 mountainous side of the prospect; and on the 
 intermediate banks grew whatever miglit invite the 
 eye, or please the wandering palate; fruits un- 
 numbered of every kind, too heavy fur the parent 
 stock whereon they grew ; flowers in every varied 
 hue, and every varied tint which the sun could 
 form by the many-coloured beams of its all-diffu- 
 sive light. 
 
 While Hassan was admiring these luxurious 
 productions of the uncultivated place, he perceived 
 a most beauteous female advar.cing through the 
 irregular avenues of the spacious grove. ' O 
 blessed Prophet,' cried the enamoured Sultan, as 
 soon as he beheld her, ' what delights hast thou 
 prepared for me in this vale of plenteousness ! 
 surely I am already in thy blissful paradise! and 
 behold, the Houri, whom thou hast consigned to 
 my arms, is now approaching to meet niy em- 
 brace !' 
 
 As he said this, he sprang forward to join the 
 blooming fair one, whose delicate limbs stood all 
 confessed to view, and displayed, in their ineffable 
 symmetry and delicate purity, the utmost harmony 
 of a beauteous creation. She also, as animated by 
 tiie same inclination and desires, hastened towards 
 the embrace of the all-admiring Hassan; — but 
 •Ai<s ! ere the happy couple could meet, the envious 
 raitli gave a hideous groan, and the ground, 
 |inrting under their feet, divided them from each 
 oilier by a dismal chasm. 
 
 While the astonished pair stood en different
 
 THE CALIPH OF BAGDAT. 95 
 
 sides of the gulf, viewing the horrid fissure and the 
 dark abyss, wild notes of strange uncouth warlike 
 music were heard from the bottom of the pit; and 
 immediately a flash or vapour of blue flame arose 
 from the cavern, in the midst of which the Caliph 
 discovered an enormous elephant, with a turret on 
 his back. 
 
 When the elephant was level with the surface, 
 the earth closed again : and a black, who sat on 
 the elephant's neck, advanced upon his body to the 
 turret; which he touched with a wand in his hand, 
 and immediately the turret flew into a thousand 
 pieces, and discovered a little hut, out of which 
 came a negro woman, properly accoutied with the 
 implements of war. 
 
 The beauteous lady screamed at the sight : and 
 as Hassan was hastening to her assisiance, the 
 black who held the wand in his hand cried out 
 with a voice like tliunder : — 
 
 ' Hassan Assar forbear! — But it matters not; for 
 Omphram has deceived me, and thou art unworthy 
 of the favour of Mahomet r Omphram assured me 
 that the Caliph of Bagdat was unbias^sed by the 
 outward appearance of things : and yet inethinks 
 I see you pay a preference to beauty, and neglect 
 to attend on the vigorous Nakin Palata, who is 
 destined for your spouse.' 
 
 ' What !' cried Hassan, in amaze, ' must I leave 
 this perfect original, to take up with that unnatural 
 lump of blackness?' — At these words, IVukin 
 Palata, with great wrath, drew forth an arrow from 
 her quiver, and fixing it in her bow, aimed the 
 fatal sliaft at the budy of the beautiful nymph. 
 
 Hassan saw the malice, but could not prevent the 
 blow. The anow pierced through the snowy hea) t 
 oi the loveH' female; and the warm tide ol blood 
 ai;d Hie issued forth at the unfriendly wound. As
 
 96 HISTORY OF HASSAN ASSAH, 
 
 the distressed Caliph drew the arrow forth, and 
 applied his lips to the place, the black jumping- 
 from his beast, ran to him, and commanded him to 
 discontinue his care, or he would for ever lose the 
 protection of Mahomet. 
 
 The Caliph looked up in astonishment at hear- 
 ing the command, and was more than ever sur- 
 prised to behold the skin falling from the body of 
 the black, under which he discovered the features 
 of Omphram his Genius. 
 
 'O Hassan As^sar,' said Omphram, 'hast thou 
 not yet learnt, that the delights of this world are 
 not to bias your affection and obedience from the 
 will of Heaven? When you prayed to the Prophet 
 to continue your race on the throne of your fore- 
 fathers, did you not promise to give up all other 
 blessings, if you might possess that only desire of 
 your heart ? — Now, then, what is beauty, when put 
 in competition with her who is to perpetuate the 
 descendants of the Caliph of Bagdat ? Wast thou 
 not unhappy when thou hadst every beauty at com- 
 mand ? Didst thou not then despise such faint al- 
 lurements, and beg from Heaven a more substantial 
 blessing? Behold her, then, who is appointed to 
 bless thee; and yet thou fliest from her, and art 
 now returning to those pleasures which thou hast 
 solemnly renounced : but think not the Prophet 
 will suffer such ingratitude ! Xo ; enjoy the com- 
 pany of thy beauteous Houri ; for, no doubt, 
 your love Is so excessive, that you will willingly 
 follow her to the grave.' 
 
 Having thus said, she struck the ground with her 
 wand, and immediately a number of slaves arose 
 with stones, and all the materials for building. — 
 ^ There,' said the fairy to the workmen, * enclose 
 that dying corpse with a substantial monument, 
 and let us see how long this worldly Caliph's love
 
 THE CALIPH OF BAGDAT. 97 
 
 will fix him on the body of his mistress.' — The 
 slaves obeyed; and, being Genii of an inferior 
 order, executed their business in less time than a 
 mortal workman could have laid the foundation. 
 
 Hassan neither observed their work, nor was so- 
 licitous to escape ; but, still pressing with his lips 
 the fatal wound, suffered himself to be enclosed in 
 those walls of death. Before the roof (which was 
 formed of massive stone) was entirely covered 
 Omphram called out, and commanded Hassan to 
 withdraw; but the Caliph was deaf, and regardless of 
 every thing but the condition of his dear nymph. 
 Wherefore the Genii completed the work ; and 
 Omphram, finding him deaf to her commands, left 
 him immured in the mausoleum, with the dead 
 body of the strangely murdered fair one. 
 
 Although the workmen of Omphram had totally 
 immured the Caliph Hassan Assar, yet was there 
 left a grate-work of iron in the middle of the tnmb 
 by the Genius's command, through which the light 
 might reflect on the deceased body, and give the 
 Caliph a full view of the dead beauties which he 
 had preferred to the will of his Prophet. 
 
 For several days, the love-sick Hassan persisted 
 in his attention to the corpse of his beautiful 
 favourite : but contagious mortality now began to 
 steal away the delicate complexion and graceful 
 hue, which formerly adorned the living Houri's 
 limbs ; a noisome stench succeeded, and yellow 
 putrid foulness overspread the whole body; her 
 cheeks sunk, her flesh grew moist with rottenness, 
 and all her frame sent forth the strongest effluvia 
 of corruption and death. 
 
 Hassan, whose love and affection were solely 
 supported by lust and passion, having lost the only 
 objects of his desires, began to loath the wretched 
 
 H
 
 yS HISTORY OP HASSAN ASSAE, 
 
 situation which he had chosen in preference to 
 submission and obedience. 
 
 * And is this,' cried the dejected Caliph, looking 
 on the corrupted mass, ' is this the natural effect of 
 death on beauty ? Is it, then, only owing to the 
 different modifications of matter, that one mass 
 gives us the highest enjoyment, and another the 
 greatest disgust ? Nay, mure ; are the joys of this 
 world so fleeting and unsubstantial, that the objects 
 of our pleasure to-day may to-morrow become the 
 objects of our aversion? — O Prophet! holy Pro- 
 phet 1' continued he, ' I now see and acknowledge 
 the justice of thy punishment; I now can discern 
 between the good that thou didst intend me, and 
 the evil which I have chosen.' — At these words, 
 le sunk on the ground, overcome with watching, 
 loathing, hunger, and fatigue. 
 
 As he lay stretched on the ground, the female 
 negro appeared above at the grate. — ' O blind, ill- 
 fated Caliph,' said she, ' how long will it be ere 
 thou seest the follies of thy choice ? Wert thou not 
 born to do the will of Heaven ? Wert thou not, by 
 thine own desire, consigned over by that will, to 
 fly from the pleasures of life, and give thyself up to 
 tlie interest of thy race ? The Prophet doubted the 
 sincerity of thy heart ; he therefore placed thee 
 amidst all the natural luxuries which this world 
 affords ; luxuries far more irresistible than those 
 which art hath made in imitation of them. — The 
 love which you professed for that noisome body, 
 eay, O Caliph, did it arise from virtue or lust? 
 You saw and loved ; but you heard not, neither had 
 you knowledge of the perfection or imperfections 
 of her mind. Siie came only recommended to you 
 by passion and desire ; I came recommended by 
 the will of your Prophet : but you foolishly con- 
 ceived his commands grievous, and your desires
 
 THE CALIPH OF BAGDAT. 99 
 
 natural and reasonable ; therefore you were left iu 
 possession of your wishes, to convince yoa, that, 
 from disobedience and unlawful pleasure no other 
 fruits can sprout forth but those of corruption and 
 abhorrence. You are sensible this life is short, 
 precarious, and uncertain ; it is a life of trial and 
 not of enjoyment; it is a life in which we must 
 refuse, and not covet the pleasures of the world. 
 Where then is the hardship of obedience, when we 
 are commanded to abstain, in order hereafter to 
 possess ? 
 
 * Think not, O Caliph, I speak this of myself ; it is 
 your Prophet directs me ; he sought me out among 
 many in mine own nation ; he snatched me from 
 the arms of one whom 1 had formerly esteemed for 
 his activity and manly strength. 
 
 ' ' Nakin Palata,' said a voice unto me, as I was 
 with the utmost pleasure observing the exercises of 
 my lovely youth, ' attend to the commands of Hea- 
 ven ; and know thou wert born to fulfil its will. 
 — At the same time an invisible power plunged me 
 into the earth, and placed me in the hut and turret 
 which you beheld on the back of the elephant. 
 
 ' A black who guided the beast, informed me of 
 the cause of my situation. — ' You are,' said the 
 guide, ' selected out of thousands, for your modesty, 
 your humility, and obedience to the power above, 
 to be mother of a royal race. A great and mighty 
 king shall fill your arms : but then you must never 
 more reflect upon the youth you have left, nor sigh 
 for the enjoyment of your native country.' At 
 these words, O Caliph, I sunk with sorrow and 
 disgust: no joys of fortune or riches were, in my 
 esteem, equivalent to the jetty blackness of my be- 
 loved Kafrac. 
 
 ' ^ What then,' said T, ' must I be condemned 
 for ever to lose the sight of Kafrac, the idol of my 
 soul ?'
 
 100 HISTORY OF HASSAN ASSAR, 
 
 * ' No,' replied my guide, ' you shall see him yet 
 once again, to convince you how blind that choice 
 is, which has only outward comeliness and natural 
 abilities for its object.' — ' At these words, he took 
 ine by the shoulders, and we mounted through the 
 caverns of the earth. The ground opened as we 
 ascended, and presently I was conveyed into the 
 centre of a wood, which I remembered, was near 
 the habitation of my jetty Kafrac. 
 
 'The black, having taken his hand from my 
 shoulder, bade me walk forward to a gloomy part 
 of the wood : I obeyed : — but, O Caliph, judge the 
 emotions of my soul, when I beheld the traitorous 
 Kafrac locked in the arms of my brother's wife ! 
 My blood curled with horror at the sight ; and I 
 stood motionless before the adulterous Kafrac. 
 
 * My guardian black, perceiving my condition, 
 ran toward me, and again touching my shoulder, the 
 earth opened a second time, and we sunk together 
 on the hack of the elephant. — * Well,' cried my 
 guide, when he had seated me in the turret, ' are 
 you now better disposed to obey the will of the 
 Prophet of Mecca V 
 
 ' ' I am,' said I, (still terrified with the dreadful 
 vision), ' at the disposal of your Prophet, and en- 
 tirely convinced of my own incapacity to distinguish 
 between real and fictitious goodness.' — * Then,' 
 replied the guide, ' you are capable of executing 
 the will of your Prophet. Here, take these your 
 national accoutrements (giving me the bow and 
 arrows), and when you see the Caliph Hassan 
 Assar pursuing sensual pleasure, and preferring the 
 specious appearance of beauty to the command of 
 Mahomet, direct your shaft at the breast of his 
 mistress, and fear not to destroy her ; for she is 
 only beautiful in appearance, but is really no more 
 than an earthly phantom, sent to convince Hassan
 
 THE CALIPH OF BAGDAT. 101 
 
 Assar of the weakness of his heart, and the folly o^ 
 his sensual lusts.' — Having thus said, we ascended 
 again into the realms of light, and arose just be- 
 tween you and the phantom, which you blindly 
 esteemed beyond the great blessings that are de- 
 signed for you.' 
 
 When Nakin Palata had ended her relation, the 
 Caliph prostrated himself on the ground, and, 
 thrice adoring Alia and his illustrious Prophet, he 
 cried out, in the words of Nakin Palata : — ' I am 
 at thy disposal, O Prophet.' — As he said this, the 
 skies loured with thunder, and Omphram his Genius 
 descended. 
 
 At her approach, the tomb cracked and divided, 
 and Hassan Assar again prostrated himself on the 
 earth before the Genius of his kingdom. 
 
 * Happy, happy, happy Caliph ! happy art thou, 
 O Hassan Assar !' cried out Omphram, ' who canst 
 submit to the will of thy Prophet ; happy art thou 
 in thy choice, and happy is Nakin Palata in ex- 
 changing a barbarous savage for a wise, prudent, 
 and religious monarch. — Nor shalt thou find, O 
 Hassan Assar,' continued the Genius Omphram, 
 ' that the commands of JNIahomet are grievous or 
 heavy to be borne : for now look at her whom thou 
 hast despised, and examine the features of the once 
 detestable Nakin Palata.* 
 
 At her command, the Caliph arose from the 
 ground: but oh! how was his soul transported, 
 when he beheld the countenance of his bride 
 changed, and Nakin Palata glowing with every 
 charm with which nature could invest her ? 
 
 ^ Ah, Caliph!' continued Omphram, 'be not too 
 much transported by the outward appearance of 
 things : it is because you love each other, that you 
 seem thus beautifully changed : nor are you less 
 amiable in the eves of Nakin Palata, than she is in
 
 .102 HISTORY OF HASSAN ASSAR. 
 
 your sight, O Caliph ! This shall continue while 
 your lovo continues : but when you, by caprice, by 
 a resolute superiority, or by a vexatious ill-nature, 
 put on the frown of disapprobation, then shall you 
 be divested of this amiable comeliness, and stand 
 like a cruel and insulting tyrant before your trem- 
 bling bride : and when either her love or her obe- 
 dience fails, then shall she be again transformed, 
 and wear the disgusting complexion of a tawny 
 negro.' 
 
 Having thus said, she took Hassan Assar and his 
 bride into her chariot, which was drawn by two 
 majestic lions ; and wafted them in the air to the 
 Caliph's palace at Bagdat. 
 
 His subjects, when they heard of his arrival, all 
 flocked to the presence of their royal master, and 
 welcomed, with the warmest affection, his long- 
 wished return. Hassan Assar presented to them 
 his beauteous bride, and declared her the only 
 Sultana of his realms. The court rang with joy- 
 ous acclamations, and all hailed the amiable JVakin 
 Palata. Omphram declared to them the reasons 
 of the Caliph's choice, and promised, in the name 
 of the Prophet, a royal successor. At this assur- 
 ance, the palace again reechoed with the voices of 
 his subjects ; and nothing was heard in his kingdom 
 but the praises of Hassan Assar, the loving, obe- 
 dient, and religious Caliph, and Nakin Palata, the 
 joy and consort of the best of princes. 
 
 Omphram having ended her tale, the sage Iraca- 
 gem waved his wand, and, commanding the race 
 of the Faithful to sit down on the carpets spread 
 under their feet, he ordered u collation worthy of 
 his race to be produced. A number of inferior 
 Genii immediately brought iu a service of milk and 
 rice.
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 103 
 
 ' Plain, like tlieir instruction,' said he, is tlie 
 diet of the Faithful ; their desires are not after \he 
 flesh, but after the immortal food of tlie mind. As 
 the courser despiseth the pastures over which he 
 engageth in the race, so doth the child of Heaven 
 pass by the pleasures of the sons of earth. — To sa- 
 tisfy the mind is the business of our race, and to 
 liken it to the image of its original fountain : feed 
 then, my children,' continued Iracagem, ' the ne- 
 cessary cravings of your earthly frames; but suffer 
 not the clay-moulded case to weigh down the pre- 
 cious jewel it contains.' 
 
 Tlie disciples of the Genii having finished their 
 abstemious repast, Hassarack was ordeiedto recite 
 the tale of Kelaun and Guzzarat. 
 
 TALE IV. 
 
 Kelaun and Guzzarat. 
 
 Beneath the foot of a lofty rock, in the moun- 
 tains of Gabel-el-ared, lived a homely peasant, 
 whose business it was to lead a few sheep through 
 the hollow passages of the mountains, from one 
 fruitful valley to another, that they might feed on 
 the herbs, which grew plentifully near the rills and 
 cascades, on every side descending from the craggy 
 precipices. 
 
 Canfu had followed his pastoral life from a child ; 
 and his stock consisted of twelve sheep, which he 
 attended, and four goats, which his wife daily 
 milked, for the support of Canfu and her son. 
 
 If Canfu had harboured a wish beyond the present 
 scene, it was, that Kelaun, his son, might here- 
 after become the husband of his neighbour Raask's
 
 104 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 daughter. With this intent, the two children were 
 made acquainted with each other from their infancy, 
 and brought daily into the same spot of ground to 
 play and gambol together. 
 
 But the haughty disposition of his comrade Guz- 
 zarat, soon grew offensive to the fiery temper of the 
 impetuous Kelaun ; and the young couple, instead 
 of imbibing a love and friendship for each other in 
 their infiincy, broke out in mutual hatred and ani- 
 mosity. Canfu saw their growing dislike with the 
 utmost grief and sorrow; he had asked of his Pro- 
 phet but one request, and that, he perceived, would 
 be denied him. 
 
 The angry father could not conceal his vexation, 
 but daily poured out his discontent against the gra- 
 cious purposes of Heaven, which, he imagined, were 
 for ever contrived to thwart and disappoint him. 
 
 As he was one day sitting upon a stone, and 
 ■watching his flock by the side of a cascade, which 
 ran foaming from the rocks above, he perceived a 
 naked body came tumbling down the torrent, and 
 which, having passed the fall, swam on the surface 
 of the waters, and seemed to all appearance dead. 
 
 Canfu could not behold such a sight without en- 
 deavouring to rescue the body from the current ; 
 which he effected with his crook, as the stream, 
 though rapid, was very narrow. Having pulled it 
 on the bank, he perceived it was the body of a 
 beautiful woman, which, as soon as the water dried 
 from it, gave signs of life, and by degrees recovered 
 its powers of action. 
 
 The modest Canfu had pulled from his shoul- 
 ders the vest which he wore, and spread it on the 
 stranger, when he drew her to the land : but he 
 was greatly surprised to find that she was so soon 
 recovered; nor was his amazement lessened, when 
 he perceived a web like a wing expand from each
 
 ' KELACN AND GVZZAKAT. 10.5 
 
 shoulder, and saw the fair stranger mount into the 
 air, like an eagle soaring to the sun. 
 
 Canfu continued watching her with his eyes ; 
 while she flew towards the rock, whence she had 
 heen carried down by the torrent ; and several 
 times did she encircle the whole range of moun- 
 tains in her flight, as though she had been in quest 
 of some prey. 
 
 On a sudden, he perceived a second figure in 
 the air; the winged female attacked it, and was 
 repulsed, and fell again into the lake; and the 
 shepherd again saw her carried down the cliff by 
 the rapid stream. Again, in amaze, the shepherd 
 drew the body out; which, being dried, revived as 
 before, and presented once more to his view the 
 beautiful female. 
 
 ' It is vain, O Canfu (said she), to strive against 
 a race who are my superiors. But for your kind- 
 ness, I must have perished : for, such is my nature 
 that the water, in the time that the Sun runs his 
 course round the earth, would dissolve my being. 
 — I am of the race of Genii, of those bold and free 
 Genii, who dared disobey the seal of Solyman, and 
 the commands of Mahomet. It is my delight to 
 thwart the will of that Prophet ; you saw me this 
 moment engagingwith the Genius Nadoc, who was 
 bearing a message from Mahomet. Nadoc, know- 
 ing the imperfection of my nature, would not 
 attack me till I flew directly over the lake ; he 
 then maliciously plunged me into the water, hoping 
 to destroy me ; but 1 knew one was near to help 
 me, who was ofiended at the Prophet, because he 
 disregarded thy prayer. What Mahomet, therefore, 
 denied thee, O Canfu, I will grant, provided thou 
 eonsentest, for my power is limited ; neither may 
 1 help or distress mankind, without their own ap- 
 probation and concurrence.'
 
 106 KELAUN AND GCZZARAT. 
 
 * O beautiful Genius,' answered Canfu, ' thou 
 hast my consent : unite but my son Kelaun in the 
 bonds of marriage with Guzzarat, and I will ever 
 be obedient to thy commands.' 
 
 * Return then with joy to thine hut,' said Giu- 
 araha; ' for already apart of thy wish is granted. 
 — As she spake these words , she spread her airj 
 pinions, and mounted from his sight. 
 
 Canfu was at a great distance from his hut; 
 and did not arrive under his native rock till 
 the sun was hidden behind the mountains of Gabel- 
 el-ared. 
 
 The twelve sheep and the four goats preceded 
 him. His wife knew the bleat of the sheep, and 
 ran ont to meet her returning husband. 
 
 * Thy sheep,' said she, ' O Canfu, are complete 
 in number ; thy goats also are four ; even as they 
 went out with thee, so are they returned : but 
 where is Kelaun thy son V 
 
 * Kelaun,' answered the astonished father, ' went 
 not ont with me ; the way was tiresome and dan- 
 gerous, and I would not suffer him to accompany 
 me.* 
 
 ' I know it well, O Canfu,' replied his wife, 
 * Kelaun went out, while the sun was yet in the 
 
 valleys, to seek thee ' At these words, the 
 
 countenance of Canfu fell ; for he remembered at 
 that time it was, that he had given Giuaraha his 
 consent. 
 
 ' Is he not,' replied the anxious father, ' with 
 Guzzarat, the daughter of Raask V 
 
 Their huts were not a furlong apart ; Canfu 
 hastened toward the dwelling of Raask : but Ke- 
 laun was not there. 
 
 Tired as the shepherd was with the heat and la- 
 bour of the preceding day ; yet, leaving the sheep 
 to the care of his wife, he set out to seek among
 
 KELAUN AND GtJZZARAT. 107 
 
 the mountains his wandering son. He laboured the 
 whole night in a fruitless search ; and returned to 
 his hut in the morning, spent and overcome with 
 grief, care and remorse. 
 
 ' Alas !' said the unhappy father, * I have con- 
 sented to my own misery, and Giuaraha has stolen 
 
 from me the only joy of my heart! — O Prophet 
 
 but,' said the wretched Canfu, ' I dare not call 
 upon thee, for I have joined with thine enemies, 
 and thou hast justly deserted me !' 
 
 We must, however, leave the sorrowful hut of 
 Canfu, and follow the steps of the little Kelaun 
 among the mountains. 
 
 Kelaun was well acquainted with the valleys and 
 rocks which stood near the habitation of his father ; 
 he knew the notches which Canfu had cut as di- 
 rections, and followed them faithfully till the day- 
 light decreased, every moment expecting to meet 
 his father, and the sheep, and the goats, whose 
 company he preferred to the imperious Guzzarat. 
 But when night overtook him, his little knees 
 knocked together with fear • and, because his pa- 
 rent had forgotten to teach him to address any 
 other power, he prayed to Canfu, and cried aloud 
 that he would come and deliver him. 
 
 He was then on a barren spot, surrounded on all 
 sides with rocks, except a small aperture through 
 which he had crept. As he gained the middle of 
 this vale, a small blue flame burst forth out of the 
 ground, which increased in a pyramidical form, till 
 it seemed like a hillock of fire. 
 
 The wind immediately arose, and bellowed on 
 the cliffs and ragged tops of the surrounding moun- 
 tains ; but no storm could reach the bottom of the 
 vale, where the infant Kelaun stood, gazing at the
 
 1C8 KELAUN AND GCTZZARAT. 
 
 rising flame which burned in the middle of the 
 heath. 
 
 Presently the air was filled with shrieks, and in 
 a moment the blue fire was surrounded with the 
 Genii of the place. 
 
 The first in dignity stood the bold Giuaraha ; she 
 commanded silence among them, and, ere they 
 began their midnight rites, harangued them to the 
 following efi'ect : — 
 
 *■ ye invincible but by water ! see among your 
 ranks an infant devoted to the power of our art. 
 Hi? parent has consented to our dominion : and 
 Kclaun, the son of Canfu, is committed into the 
 care of the despisers of Mahomet. Let us see, 
 therefore, O royal race, how far the human heart is 
 capable of being tutored in the licentious maxims 
 of our undaunted establishment : let us carry him 
 to our palace, in the centre of the earth, and in- 
 struct him in such artifices and wiles, as may 
 make him a scourge to the humble dependents on 
 the Prophet of Mecca.' 
 
 To this exhortation, the whole assembly mut- 
 tered applause ; and the valley, sinking by degrees, 
 descended with the Genii and their prize, and left 
 the black heavy mountains above tottering with 
 their powerful enchantments. 
 
 Kelaun, amazed and confounded at the sight, 
 filled the air with his cries ; but his fears were 
 vain ; Canfu had resigned his son, and Mahomet 
 would not rescue those who mistrusted and hated 
 his government. 
 
 The valley having descended for some time, at 
 length stopped, and, with a shake like that of an 
 earthquake, settled itself in the bowels of the globe. 
 
 No sooner was the valley fixed, than the solid 
 rocks which surrounded it opened on every side.
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. lOD 
 
 and formed rough and irregular arches and ave- 
 nues, leading from its centre. 
 
 Immediately an innumerable host of evil Genii 
 issued from the rocks, and the place was filled 
 with the restless spirits of those disturbers of man- 
 kind. But far above the rest was seen the proud 
 Allahoara, the leader and encourager of that re- 
 bellious crew of Genii, whose voice was as the 
 echoes of thunder on the mountains, and whose 
 restless eye-balls shot flashes of lightning like the 
 vengeful clouds. 
 
 The little Kelaun stood astonished at his pre- 
 sence, and Giuaraha led him trembling like the 
 pendent aspin-leaf that overshadows the flood 
 
 Allahoara, who knew the prize that his sister 
 Giuaraha had brought, commended her care and 
 fidelity to the cause of the restless Genii, and gave 
 orders that the infant should be immediately put 
 tinder proper tutors to educate him, and make him 
 capable of the work they purposed to employ him 
 in. Giuaraha was appointed his nurse, and she it 
 was whom Allahoara commanded to lead Kelaun 
 through the schools of that abandoned race. 
 
 These orders being issued, the tumultuous band 
 dispersed through the caverns and the arched rocks, 
 and left Giuaraha with her little prize. 
 
 And first the Genius led him through a range of 
 vaulted rocks, into a long room of splendid gar- 
 ments, and endeavoured to fix his attention upon 
 them : she made him try on several, and told him 
 he looked like a little god. Kelaun was pleased 
 with the finery of the place, and began to give 
 credit to the words of Giuaraha. His little head 
 was soon filled with vanity, and his thoughts 
 centred in himself. Next, she placed him on a 
 soft sofa, at the extremity of the room ; and while 
 he lay entranced in sleep, she presented before hi* 
 imagination a vision of the night.
 
 110 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 Kelaun, as he slept, thought that he saw his 
 father Canfu on the rocks of Gabel-el-ared ; the 
 form of his visage was as the dark black precipice ; 
 and he spake as the angry waves, when they rush 
 into the hollow caverns : he chid the little Kelaun, 
 because he appeared so gay, and commanded him 
 to put on his shepherd's coat, and follow the twelve 
 sheep to the brook. — Kelaun awoke with the ter- 
 rors of tlie vision, and told his tale to the artful 
 Giuaraha. 
 
 ' Silly father !' said the Genius : ' silly Canfu, the 
 shepherd ! shall Kelaun, the favourite of the Genii, 
 regard the dreams of a father, or think again of 
 the poor shepherd Canfu ? No, my son, despise 
 the lessons which the base goatherd has taught 
 you, and think no more of the tales of thy unwor- 
 thy parents. Kelaun, my son, was born to rule ; 
 how then shall he who is a king regard the lessons 
 of poverty and ignorance !' 
 
 Slie then took the vain son of Canfu by the hand 
 and led him, accoutred in tawdry robes, to a small 
 field where a thousand little imps were playing to- 
 gether : at the sight of Kelaun they all bowed, 
 and began to praise the plumes which adorned his 
 head, and the robe which flowed from his shoulders. 
 They entered into contests to divert him, and filled 
 the place with tumult and disorder. Some brought 
 before him divers little animals, which they con- 
 trived to torture by a variety of punishments ; 
 others taught him to confound and destroy what- 
 ever he met with ; while a little imp put in his hand 
 several implements of cruelty, and encouraged 
 him to exercise them on his comrades. 
 
 Kelaun entered with a savage joy into the spirit of 
 his instructor, and first began to wreak his wanton 
 cruelty on the adviser of the sport : nor would 
 aught but magic art have prevented him from goad- 
 ing the person of the Genius Giuaraha ; who, having
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. Ill 
 
 a short time used him to tliese sports, took him to 
 a small hut, where dwelt an old hag, accoutred in 
 rags and filth. 
 
 * Morad,' said the Genius, * I will leave this 
 pupil with you for a time j instruct him in your 
 arts, and make him a fit scourge for mankind.' 
 
 Morad immediately struck the little Kelaun to 
 the ground with her crutch : after a time, he arose 
 with tears in his eyes, and found the Genius had 
 left him. 
 
 ' Strip, urchin,' said Morad, ' strip off these 
 fool's feathers, and take that vessel to the brook 
 for water.' 
 
 Kelaun recovering from the blow, refused to 
 obey Morad, and inquired for his former instructor ; 
 but the old hag with curses drove him out of the 
 house to a muddy ditch, where she commanded 
 him to draw water for their support. Kelaun sav/ 
 it was in vain to disobey; he brought the wretched 
 produce of the ditch to his hut, and Morad set be- 
 fore him some carrion for his support. 
 
 ' The lesson of poverty and necessity,' said the 
 hag, ' is various; it makes men merciful, or it 
 makes them cruel ; it teacheth the mean spaniel to 
 crouch, but it smeareth the mouth of the tiger 
 with carnage and blood.' 
 
 * Be mine the tiger's lot,' said Kelaun, * though 
 Morad be the subject of my wrath.' 
 
 * The blessings of Morad, which are curses, at- 
 tend thee,' replied the hag. 
 
 Morad then led the little urchin into a dark 
 cave filled with the bodies of the dead. 
 
 * There,' said she, ' learn to glutthyselfwith hu- 
 man gore ; this is thy restmg place. Early in the 
 morning must thou rise to some new work of misery.' 
 
 Kelaun, though hardened in malice and stub- 
 bornness, yet shuddered at the thoughts of such a
 
 112 KELAUN AXB GUZZARAT. 
 
 lodging:, and followed Morad as she went forth 
 from the cavern : but the hag seized him by the 
 hair, and, dragging him back, she muttered some 
 enchantment over him, and left him, without mo- 
 tion, on the bodies of the slain. 
 
 Custom soon reconciled the httle imp to this 
 scene of horrors ; and Morad, perceiving him suf- 
 ficiently inured to the sight of wretchedness and 
 poverty, carried him again to the Genius Giuaraha. 
 
 ' IsKelaun/ said the Genius, ' the favourite of 
 Morad V — ' Yes,' answered tlie hag, * Kelaun is 
 now fit for the lessons of superstition and hypo- 
 crisy.' 
 
 Giuaraha then led him toward a dark gloomy 
 wood, in the centre of which lived the old and de- 
 crepit Nervan. 
 
 ' Nervan, the friend of our race,' said Giuaraha, 
 * receive this pupil into thy arms, and teach him 
 the lessons of superstition and hypocrisy.' 
 
 Nervan bowed humbly to the Genius, and taking 
 Kelaun by the hand, he led him into a cell formed 
 of bones and skulls. 
 
 * What doth the little imp of mortality,' said 
 Nervan, ' think of my dwelling ?' 
 
 ' I think,' said Kelaun, ' that Morad has devoured 
 the carcass, and left Nervan the bones.' 
 
 * So,' continued Nervan, ' tliink the sons of folly : 
 as the eye believes, do they believe ; and tlieir 
 minds are guided by the senses of their bodies. 
 Such intellects will make thee infeiior and not 
 above mankind : take, then, this sponge, and draw 
 it over thine eyes.' 
 
 Kelaun took the sponge which ?>ervan drew forth 
 from under his garments, and, having applied it to 
 his eyes, beheld — not a cell of bones, but a noble 
 mosque, adorned with the tombs of Sultans and 
 Prophets.
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 113 
 
 Nervan immediately prostrated himself before one 
 of the tombs, and bade Kelaun do so likewise. 
 
 •The son of the shepherd knew not what worship 
 he was to pay, but imitated the devout motions of 
 Nervan. 
 
 As the old man arose, Kelaun inquired, why he, 
 the servant of the race of Genii who despise Ma- 
 homet, should worship in his temple. 
 
 ' So,' said Nervan, 'think the sons of folly : as 
 the eye believes, do they believe ; and their minds 
 are guided by the senses of their bodies. 
 
 * Know then, thou feather, who swimmest upon 
 the surface of the lake, but seest not what rocks it 
 conceals, that the greatest irreligion is a mockery 
 of Alia and his prophets, and that hypocrisy is the 
 most dangerous vice of the evil-minded. Let the 
 credulous followers of Mahomet believe thee de- 
 vout, and let them see thee prostrate before this 
 tomb, so shall thy vices be coloured by enthusiasm 
 like unto virtues, and thy sins shall appear as the 
 fulfilling of the dictates of religion. Weak minds 
 are overpowered by superstitious fear : and he who 
 believes without foundation, is as the quicksand in 
 the sea.' 
 
 At these words, Giuaraha appeared. — ' Enough,' 
 said the evil Genius, 'enough is done : strong pas- 
 sions and desires thou hast by nature, O Kelaun : 
 thy parents have suffered them to increase, and I 
 have taught thee to indulge them. Thou art now 
 a fit scourge for the Faithful, and shalt this day 
 see with me the realms of the Caliph of Bagdat.' 
 As she spake, she seized the youth by the arm ; 
 and in a moment they were in the royal palace 
 of Bagdat. 
 
 Kelaun found himself in a large apartment ; a 
 noble youth on a sofa was sleeping before him. 
 
 * Kelaun,' said the Genius, ' thou beholdest the 
 I
 
 114 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 heir of the Caliph of Bagdat.'— ' But I have no 
 weapon,* answered he, ' to eternize the sleep of this 
 delicate heir.' 
 
 ' That,' replied Gluaraha, 'is not permitted us. 
 Could we carry our agents at pleasure to perpetrate 
 what mischief we have conceived against the sons 
 of the Faithful, Kelaun should have a thousand 
 darts, all charged with the poison of the scorpion : 
 — but, alas, our power is curbed by that Mahomet, 
 whom we detest ! neither could I have brought 
 Kelaun to this placp, had not Raalcour the heir of 
 the Caliph of Bagdat, neglected to make his 
 pilgrimage to the tomb of the Prophet. But your 
 hand must not be upon his life ; therefore, I will 
 secure Raalcour, and give to Kelaun the form of 
 his person.' 
 
 So saying, Giuaraha breathed on the son of the 
 shepherd, and, touching the sleeping Raalcour 
 with her finger, he became a bird. 
 
 Kelaun, seeing the metamorphosis, ran eagerly 
 to seize the bird; and Raalcour had died under his 
 hands, but for the interposition of Giuaraha. 
 
 * What, wretch !' said the Genius, * art thou so 
 abandoned in malice, that the commands of thy 
 protectress can have no influence over thee ? The 
 curse, then, of blindness fall upon thee; and, lest 
 you should betray by your malicious follies the 
 secrets of our race, I will take from you the re. 
 mt-rabrance of the past.' 
 
 * And cursed,' returned Kelaun, ' cursed by the 
 Prophet whom thou hatest, be thy detested race ; 
 may your toils and labour be ever attended with 
 the execrations of those whom you pretend to 
 serve. There is neither peace nor friendship, there 
 is neither gratitude nor love, in the workers of evil ; 
 and they shall be first to curse you, whom ye most 
 geek to bless V
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 115 
 
 At these words, the Genius answered not, but 
 fled howling away ; for she perceived the spirit of 
 the Prophet of Mecca spake in Kelaun, and she 
 sought with remorse the caverns of earth and the 
 valleys of death. 
 
 And now the mutes and eunuchs opened the 
 doors of the apartment, and prostrated themselves 
 before the fictitious Raalcour. — 'Death,' said they, 
 *hath closed the eyes of Zimphrah ; and the Caliph 
 of Bagdat, thy father, is ascended into the ninth 
 heaven ! The Houris bathe his precious body in 
 rivers of milk, and everlasting virgins, new-weave, 
 at his approach, the bowers of Paradise! He is 
 gone unhurt over the burning grate; he is chief in 
 honour among the race of the Faithful !' 
 
 Kelaun heard the voices of the eunuchs, but saw 
 them not, and they were amazed to find their sup- 
 posed Caliph groping like unto one who searcheth 
 for light. 
 
 ' O,' said the chief of the eunuchs, ' what evil 
 hath befallen my royal lord ? Why doth he refuse 
 to look upon his prostrate slaves ? The whole city 
 wait with longing ej^es to behold their new Caliph ; 
 and Raalcour seeth not the slaves which acknow- 
 ledge him for their lord.' 
 
 'Proclaim then,' said Kelaun, 'the mightiest 
 rewards for him who shall restore to the powers of 
 sight, the Caliph of Bagdat.' 
 
 Seven days went the heralds forth with trumpets 
 and hautboys, and proclaimed the mightiest re- 
 wards for him who should restore to the powers of 
 sight the Caliph of Bagdat. 
 
 The tribe who give ease to the sick came to the 
 palace in throngs, all promising sight to the blind 
 Caliph ; but their applications had no effect on the 
 representative of Raalcour. 
 
 The Caliph, enn'.ged by disappointment, com-
 
 IIG KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 manded all those that failed, to sudden execution. 
 — Every day was the axe of the executioner fed 
 with blood : the city mourned the loss of its sages ; 
 but the eyes of the Caliph were still strangers to 
 light. 
 
 After a time, came a young man in the habit of 
 a physician and required to be brought before the 
 Caliph, that he might try his skill. The attendants 
 in the seraglio were sorry to see any more pre- 
 tenders arrive : they cautioned the young phy- 
 sician not to undertake a cure which was so likely 
 to end in his own destruction, nor add, by his in- 
 trepidity, to the blood which had been already 
 spilled in the city. 
 
 To these remonstrances he answered nothing ; 
 but with a smi'e bade them not distrust his skill, 
 but immediately admit him to the presence of the 
 Caliph. 
 
 The slaves and eunuchs of Kelaun obeyed with 
 reluctance, and led the young man into the cham- 
 ber of the fictitious Caliph, with the like silence 
 and sori'ow that they would have carried out a 
 friend to the enclosures of the dead. 
 
 The young physician made his obeisance before 
 Kelaun : but the surly monarch bade him proceed 
 to his work without delay, as the hand of the 
 executioner waited for his head. 
 
 The young man seemed not the least dismayed 
 by his threats, but, taking a quantity of powder 
 from a bag which he held under his vest, he blew 
 it in the face of the Caliph, and the scales fell 
 from his eyes, and Kelaun beheld the light. 
 
 The attendants in the seraglio beheld with joy 
 the happy transformation, and the Caliph surveyed 
 with eyes of pleasure the man who had blessed him 
 with sight. 
 
 ' Let this physician,' said he, * be exalted in the
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 117 
 
 land ; let him be above every vizier and every 
 liOble in our realms; let honour attend him, and 
 every new sun behold him more and more respected 
 and beloved. Demand of me,' continued Kelaun, 
 'demand what reward your soul would wish to be 
 possessed of, even to the half of my kingdom ; and 
 thou shalt enjoy it.' 
 
 ' O Caliph/ answered the young physician, ' far 
 be it from me to seek honour or riches, far be it 
 from an humble cottager to mix in the tumults of 
 the great ; forgive me but one deceit, and the heart 
 of thy servant shall rest satisfied for ever.' 
 
 As she spake these words, the young physician 
 laid bare her bosom, and Kelaun beheld that he 
 was talking to a beauteous female. 
 
 ' Happy am I,' said the Caliph Kelaun, * that 
 nature has pointed out a proper reward for my 
 lovely physician : yes, fair stranger,' continued he, 
 ' thou art the sultana of my heart, and shalt divide 
 with me the pleasures of the empire which I 
 enjoy.' 
 
 The fair stranger fell at the Caliph's feet, and, 
 after a short silence, thus addressed the fictitious 
 Raalcour: 
 
 ' To be the meanest of thy slaves, is the wish of 
 Guzzarat, the daughter of the peasant Raask, a 
 base inhabitant of the mountains of Gabel-el-ared.' 
 
 ' I know not,' answered Kelaun, ' the mountains 
 you speak of j but Paradise itself would not be 
 degraded by the birth v)^' my lovely sultana. — But 
 why do I suffer such perfection to lie on the earth, 
 like the jewel that is unfound, when it will add 
 such lustre to my crown ? Yes, lovely stranger, 
 this day shall make thee mistress of the Caliph 
 Raalcour.' 
 
 ' Strange it is, my lord,' said Guzzarat, rising, 
 ' that the prince Raalcour should be ignorant of
 
 118 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 the mountains of Gabel-el-ared, where you have 
 so often chased the foaming tiger on the rocks that 
 hung over the cottage of my father, and where I 
 have, with wishful eyes, traced your divine steps : 
 nay, doth not my lord remember that once, when 
 tired and fatigued with the chase, he prayed my 
 mother to bring him a cup of water ; and she sent 
 your slave Guzzarat to you with the milk of her 
 goats? Yes, my lord, you smiled when I ap- 
 proached, and you bade me obey with cheerfulness 
 the command of my parent.' 
 
 Tlie son of Canfu understood not this conversa- 
 tion ; his memory of the past was taken from him ; 
 neither otherwise could he have known what the 
 true Raalcour had done before his transformation. 
 
 ' Alas, my princess !' answered Kelaun, ' I lost 
 with my sight, all the memory of the past ; neither 
 knew I my state, when my slaves came around me, 
 till my faithful eunuch declared to me my titles; 
 but whether thou art descended from a throne, or 
 a cottage, whether thou camest like the sapphire, 
 from the entrance of the earth, or like the morn- 
 ing-star, from the chambers of the sun, thy worth 
 is in thyself, and can receive no additional lustre 
 from that which surrounds it. — But by what art, 
 my fair stranger, did you work this miracle in my 
 behalf? Who did open the treasures of physic 
 before thee, and where did the young virgin of the 
 mountains obtain a knowledge surpassing the 
 sages who have long studied in the city ?' 
 
 * My lord,' answered Guzzarat, ' shall hear his 
 slave unfold all her knowledge before him.' 
 
 ' Several moons had passed since I had seen my 
 prince Raalcour hunting in the mountains ; when 
 I heard from the caravans which travelled over 
 our rocks, that the Caliph Zimphrah was no more, 
 and that Raalcour his son was proclaimed Caliph
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 119 
 
 of Bagdat ; the travellers also informed me that 
 the Caliph's siofht was departed from him; and 
 that high rewards were published for those who 
 should restore him to his sight. 
 
 ' Hearing these things, my mind was with my 
 lord the Caliph, and I wished for tiie power of 
 giving light to the eyes of my prince ; and T siiid 
 to my mother, ' O that Guzzarat was capable of 
 restoring sight to the blind !' 
 
 ' ' Wherefore,' said the wife of Raask, ' doth 
 Guzzarat long to occupy the business of the sages V 
 Then made I answer, ' Knoweth not my mother, 
 that the Caliph languisheth in darkness, and the 
 sight of his eyes is passed from him?' And she 
 answered : ' Vain Guzzarat ! how doth the pomp 
 of greatness bewilder the thoughts and wishes of 
 the poor ! Alas ! my daughter hath forgotten 
 contentment, since she saw the richness of the gar- 
 ments of the prince Raalcour ! Vain Guzzarat, 
 return to thy charge, and feed the goats in the 
 pastures of Gabel-el-ared.' 
 
 ' So saying, my angry parent drove me before 
 her, and ordered me to keep my father's goats from 
 straying on the mountains. My feet obeyed the 
 voice of my mother ; but my heart fled like a 
 leopard over the rocks, and was fixed on my lord 
 the Caliph. 
 
 ' I went discontented with my goats to the 
 mountains, and ridiculed the poverty and humility 
 of my parents. * Why,' said I, sighing, ' hath 
 nature put aspiring minds under the fetters of age 
 and authority ? why must the quick pulse of 
 gaiety and youth be deadened by the torturing 
 precepts of infirmity? Doth not the young lion 
 rusli more furiously on its prey, than the aged 
 sovereign of the woods ? doth not the colt outstrip 
 its mother in the chase 1 Why then should the
 
 1-20 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 bloom of Giizzaiat be hidden and buried v/ith the 
 wrinkles of the wife of Raask?' 
 
 ' As 1 spake thus to the rocks and caverns, I be- 
 held a young shepherdess entering the pastures : 
 her hair was interwoven with the pride of the field, 
 and chaplets of flowers hunir around her gar- 
 ments; she lightly tripped with her feet to the 
 music of a flute which she breathed upon, and her 
 voice, like the voice of melody, was intermingled 
 with the wild notes of her instrument. 
 
 ' As she advanced with her flocks, I arose to meet 
 her in the dance. She smiled at my approach, 
 and thus began her pleasant raillery : 
 
 ' ' O elegant companion of the goats and sheep, 
 how dost thou love to revel here in the luxurious 
 bosom of thy parent mountain! Happy Guzzarat, 
 whose pleasure is obedience ; and happier Raask, 
 who is blessed with the eldest daughter of duty and 
 submission !' 
 
 *As she thus spake, she cast s smile of ridicule 
 upon me, and turning, cried out, * Follow, dear 
 Guzzarat, yon adventurous goat ; behold thy com- 
 panion is clambering among the precipices !' 
 
 ' I looked, indeed, and saw the goat was straying, 
 but, stung with her severities, I cried out : ' O fair 
 stranger, rather lessen my misfortunes by your pity 
 and advice, than increase them by your cruel reflec- 
 tions.' 
 
 * * Is Guzzarat, then,' said the shepherdess, 
 willing to follow the advice of her friend ?' — ' Yes,' 
 answered T ; ' deliver me but from this distressed 
 situation, and I will for ever acknowledge your 
 kindness.' 
 
 ' 'Then,' answered the shepherdess, 'return to 
 your cottage; and whatever you are ordered to 
 perform, be disobedient ; and if I find you faithful, 
 meet me here in three days.' — As she said thus, she
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 121 
 
 again began her song, and, winding with her flock 
 among the rocks, soon stole from my sight. 
 
 'At night I returned to the cottage, and the wife 
 of Raask ordered me to prepare a kid for our 
 suppers ; but her commands were to me of less 
 consequence than the promise which I had made 
 the shepherdess of the mountains. The wife of 
 Raask was enraged at my disobedience ; and, my 
 father being absent, she called her neighbour Canfu 
 to help in subduing her refractory daughter. 
 
 ' The monster Canfu was rejoiced to torment me : 
 he dragged me by the hair to his cottage, and tied 
 me to a post that is fixed before the door.' 
 
 ' Who,' said the Caliph, enraged and interrupting 
 Guzzarat's tale,' who is this wretch Canfu, who 
 dared violate the beauties of my lovely Guzzarat?' 
 
 * Prince of my life,' answered Guzzarat, ' you 
 have not yet heard the cruelties of this base shep- 
 herd ; my ignominious situation did not satisfy the 
 malice that he had conceived against me. 
 
 ' My father returned home at night, and hearing 
 of my obstinacy, commended his wife for calling in 
 the assistance of Canfu to subdue me. But I told 
 him I was tired of a peasant's life, and would not 
 be controlled. 
 
 ' Raask put on frowns as I spoke, and his coun- 
 tenance was turned against me. — ' What !' said he, 
 with fury and rage, ' dost thou despise the parents 
 that have nourished thee, and thy friends that 
 would reclaim thee ? Then let the blessings of 
 them that would bless thee, turn into curses on thy 
 disobedient head, and let the friendship of Canfu 
 be fury and control over thee !' — ' Yes,' answered 
 the cruel Canfu, ' I, my friend, will subdue this 
 \yicked Guzzarat for thee. The heart of the 
 parent bleedeth for the tears of its offspring; but 
 correction cometh best from a friend.'
 
 122 KELAUN AXD GUZZARAT. 
 
 ' My father then delivered me into the hands of 
 the monster Canfu,who forced me from the sight 
 of my parents to his odious cottage. As soon as 
 we arrived there, I was given over to the correction 
 of his wife. 
 
 ' 'There,' said the wretch Canfu, 'revenge the 
 loss of thy son on this proud, disobedient female.' 
 
 ' The eyes of the wife of Canfu glistened as she 
 beheld me ; and her rage and revenge broke out 
 into blows and imprecations ; nor did the merciless 
 woman forbear, till, overcome with her cruelty, I 
 sunk to the ground.' 
 
 ' By the powers of desolation,' said the fictitious 
 Caliph Kelaun, ' the wretch Canfu, and his cursed 
 wife, shall experience the most exquisite tortures ! 
 — Let them,' continued he, turning to his eunuchs, 
 'let the wretches be brought, ere the morning, to 
 the divan, and let a scaffold be erected, so that the 
 whole city may be witness to their punishment.' 
 
 ' Yea,' answered Guzzarat, prostrating herself 
 before the Caliph: 'so let the enemies of the 
 righteous perish !' 
 
 ' Proceed,' said the Caliph, raising her up, 'pro- 
 ceed, lovely Guzzarat, in your tale ; I am in ter- 
 rors to think how you escaped the malice of your 
 accursed enemies.' 
 
 ' For two days,' answered Guzzarat, ' I was con- 
 fined and tortured by Canfu and his wife ; and the 
 third day, as she dragged me forth to inflict her 
 daily stripes upon me, (her husband being with 
 his flock,) I rose up against her, and contended 
 with her. She called for help, but no one was 
 near ; at length I prevailed, and leaving her 
 stretched on the ground in a swoon, I hastened to 
 the rocks, where I had before seen the shepherdess 
 of the mountains, still in terrors lest Canfu should 
 stray in the same paths. At the decline of the
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 123 
 
 sun, my fair instructress appeared, but her flock 
 followed her not ; she held in one hand a bag, and 
 in the other a bundle of raiment. 
 
 ' As she advanced forward, she held forth the 
 bag to me, saying : ' My spirited pupil, take this 
 powder, and put on this raiment, the garb of a 
 sage of Bagdat ; and I will convey you to that 
 city, where you must demand admittance to the 
 Caliph, and, throwing some of this powder in his 
 eyes, he shall receive his sight.' 
 
 ' She then arrayed me in the vestments she had 
 brought; and, giving me the bag. she blew upon 
 me, and in a moment I found myself in the streets 
 of Bagdat, before the royal palace, where a crowd 
 soon gathered round me. 
 
 ' What !' said they, ' art thou alone left of our 
 sages, or art thou a stranger ? which if thou art, 
 and canst not give sight to the blind, depart this 
 city.' — 'Yes,' answered I, 'lam come to restore 
 Raalcour to his sight.' — ' Then may the Prophet 
 bless thy work!' answered they. 
 
 ' Immediately 1 entered the palace, and thy 
 eunuchs brought me before my lord the Caliph.' 
 
 ' This day,' said the fictitious Raalcour, ' shall 
 be for ever remembered with joy; for I have not 
 only received the sight of my eyes, but also an ob- 
 ject worthy of their utmost contemplation.' 
 
 The Caliph then took the ambitious fair one by 
 the hand ; and that day she was proclaimed Sul- 
 tan ess of Bagdat. 
 
 In the mean time, the messengers of the Cahph 
 ordered the scaffold to be prepared, and sent out an 
 armed body to apprehend Canfu and his wife. 
 
 The soldiers arrived at the cottage in the night, 
 and beating against the door, demanded Canfu to 
 come forth. Canfu looked through the lattice, and 
 sav/ the soldiers of the Caliph, and being terrified
 
 124 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 at the sight, he cried out, ' O Genii of the air, where 
 is Kelaun, my son ? where are the promises which 
 you made to the wretched Canfu ? now, if ever, O 
 help my distress !' 
 
 As he spoke, the evil Genius Giuaraha appeared. 
 — 'What,' said she, 'does my subject Canfu re- 
 quire?" — *0,' answered Canfu, ' the soldiers of the 
 Caliph beset me ; thou knowest, good Genius, that 
 they are the instruments of death.' 
 
 ' Fear not, shepherd,' answered Giuaraha ; ' have 
 not I said it, and who shall make vain my words ? 
 Even yet shalt thou see Kelaun thy son in the 
 arms of the imperious Guzzarat. — Nay,' continued 
 she, * ask me no more ; thy wish alone was to see 
 thy son Kelaun the husband of thy neighbour 
 Raask's daughter ; the Genii of the air are con- 
 tented to fulfil their promises. If we grant your 
 wish, what more have you to require ? Whether the 
 blind wish of mortality proceedeth from wisdom or 
 folly, concerneth but little our immortal race.' 
 
 Thus saying, Giuaraha turned from Canfu with 
 a smile of contempt, and spreading her airy 
 pinions, disappeared from his sight ; and the 
 soldiers, I'ushing into the cottage, bound the 
 wretched parents of Kelaun, and led them away to 
 the city of Bagdat. 
 
 Before the sun was awakened from the dream of 
 night, Canfu and his wife were led in chains to the 
 outer court of the palace ; and the first salutation 
 which the eunuchs gave the fictitious Raalcour and 
 Lis new Sultana was, that Canfu and his wife were 
 confined in chains in the outer court of the seraglio. 
 
 The eyes of Guzzarat swam in maUce at the 
 eunuch's report, and the metamorphosed Caliph 
 arose with indignation to see the enemies of his 
 Sultaness tortured before his face. A throne was 
 l)repared at a distance from the scaffold, whither
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 125 
 
 the pretended Raalcour and Guzzarat ascended, 
 with all the nobles of the court of Bagdat. The 
 streets were filled with expecting eyes, and the 
 whole city with eagerness strove who should be the 
 nearest spectators of the bloody tragedy. 
 
 The Caliph had commanded that no terrifying 
 ceremony should be omitted. His short reign had 
 already been a reign of cruelty ; and in this execu- 
 tion he was willing greatly to exceed the former 
 measures of his tyrannic disposition. 
 
 Twenty officers in black, their heads bald, and 
 their legs and feet naked, proceeded to the scalFold, 
 each bearing a skull in his right hand, and a torch 
 burning with foetid odours iu his left. 
 
 These were followed by six dressed in white, on 
 whose close garments bones were painted, in imi- 
 tation of skeletons and other fearful ghastly forms. 
 These skeletons had each a raw piece of flesh in 
 their mouths, dropping with gore and clotted 
 blood. 
 
 Next, twelve, of a gigantic stature, came stalking 
 forward ; their faces were painted of a fiery red ; a 
 fictitious smoke seemed to issue from their nostrils, 
 and each bore in his arms a naked infant, on whom 
 they inflicted real torment ; for such was the cruelty 
 of the Caliph Kelaun, that, rather than lose that 
 addition to the fatal tragedy he meant to represent, 
 he had commanded twelve infants to be furnished 
 out of the city for that inhuman scenery. — The 
 cries of these poor infants struck the hearts of the 
 populace with the most lively terrors, and multi- 
 plied, beyond thought, the distress of Canfu and his 
 wife, who followed the twelve of gigantic stature. 
 
 First came the wife of Canfu. Two naked 
 figures, smeared with blood and carnage, drew her 
 along with red-hot pincers. Her cries pierced 
 every lieart but thoec of the curbed Kelaun, and
 
 1-26 KELAUX AND GUZZAKAT. 
 
 his imperious Sultaness. The malice of Guzzarat 
 was unsatisfied with the performance of the tor- 
 mentors ; and she called out from the throne, and 
 commanded them to strike their instruments still 
 deeper into the flesh of her enemy. 
 
 The last in this melancholy scene was the shep- 
 herd Canfu : he was borne by eight slaves, arrayed 
 in the bloody skins of as many tigers. Each slave 
 held a jagged hook in his hand, which, being 
 plunged into the flesh of the wretched shepherd, 
 served as handles to suspend him in torment. 
 
 The cries, the groans, and lamentations of this 
 miserable couple were such as the enemies of Ma- 
 homeut only could utter, and the hearts of the evil 
 Genii hear, without remorse and horror ; the whole 
 city groaned to see the tyranny of the Caliph, and 
 the savage joy of his haughty Sultaness ! 
 
 As this hated procession was moving from the 
 seragUo to the scaffold, the shouts of a multitude, 
 and the instruments of war, were heard at a distant 
 part of the city. The fictitious Caliph in terrors, 
 commanded the bloody tragedy to stop, and in- 
 quired what noise in the city disturbed his ears ? — 
 The whole populace were amazed ; no one knew 
 the cause, nor could imagine whence the distant 
 tumult could proceed. 
 
 The Caliph's uncertainty was short ; for in a 
 moment the Genius Hassarack appeared. She was 
 clad in a refulgent armour of gold : a thousand 
 feathers nodded in her crest ; on her left hand sat 
 perched a little bird, and in her right hand she held 
 a wand of adamant : and ten thousand armed troops 
 followed behind. The guards of Kelaun were con- 
 founded at the sight ; but the tyrant was so uni- 
 versally hated, that no one strove to arm in his 
 behalf. 
 
 As the Genius came forward, she waved herada-
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 127 
 
 raantine wand, and the fictitious Caliph and his cruel 
 Sultaness became fixed on their thrones. She then 
 turned to the wretched shepherd Canfu, who was 
 still upheld by the jagged hooks of the cruel tor- 
 mentors. ' Cursed alike,' said she, ' are the agents 
 and the instruments of cruelty.' 
 
 As she spake, the whole procession seemed in 
 flames ; and in a moment all but Canfu and his 
 wife were reduced to ashes. The sinews of Canfu 
 were, however, almost benumbed with death, and 
 the vision of day was fading from his eyes, when 
 Hassarack appeared : and now sufficient life only 
 remained for him to see and understand the scene 
 before him. 
 
 ' The law of his Prophet was grievous unto 
 Canfu,' said the Genius Hassarack, ' and the un- 
 searchable ways of the great Alia seemed unto him 
 crooked and unjust. Shall then the thoughts of 
 the righteous Alia be likened unto his thoughts ? 
 or shall the hands of Him who made the stars and 
 sun, be guided by the vain decrees of a reptile's 
 heart 1 
 
 ' O Canfu ! thou short-sighted, unbelieving 
 wretch, what hast thou gained by leaving the 
 ^Yorshil) of Mahomet, to follow the wicked steps of 
 the apostate Genii ? It was because the Prophet of 
 the Faithful knew, that only evil could arise from 
 the loves of Guzzarat and Kelaun, that he had in- 
 tended ever to separate theai ; thereby to bless and 
 prolong the life of Canfu. his votary : .but since 
 you have denied Mahomet, your guardian, and 
 sought fellowship with his enemies ; therefore he 
 hath suffered them to repay your impious services 
 with such exquisite miseries, by granting you the 
 foolish wishes of your heart. — Behold then, thou 
 worshipper of the evil Genii, thou impious re- 
 negade, thou blasphemer of our holy Prophet, the 
 desires of thy heart completed.'
 
 1*28 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 As Hassarack spake thus, she again waved her 
 wand, and the robes of the Caliph fell from the 
 fictitious Raalcour, and the form of his face was 
 as the form of Kelaun, the son of the shepherd 
 Canfu. 
 
 Tlie tortured Canfu looked with amaze on his 
 metamorphosed son ; nor was Kelaun less aston- 
 ished, when, recovering his former shape and 
 memory, he perceived that his cruelties had been 
 directed against his father and mother. 
 
 • O cursed Giuaraha,' said the faltering Canfu, 
 * thou hast indeed joined Kelaun with the haughty 
 Guzzarat. Thy promise is fulfilled, and Canfu 
 fidls a prey to the follies of his own short-sighted 
 desires.' 
 
 As he thus spake, the wretched shepherd expired 
 with his eyes fixed on Kelaun and his imperious 
 mistress ; nor did the spirit of his wife survive her 
 husband's melancholy fate. 
 
 Guzzarat beheld these strange interviews with 
 displeasure : instead of the Caliph Raalcour, she 
 found herself tied to her neighbour Kelaun, and 
 herself no longer Sultaness of Bagdat, but again 
 a mean shepherdess of Gabel-el-ared. Her tongue 
 was charged with malice, and her eyes with resent- 
 ment; but Hassarack had, by her magic power, 
 stopped all further utterance of her passions. 
 
 The multitudes were hardly less astonished at 
 these amazing changes than the principal actors 
 themselves. They saw with pleasure one tyrant 
 deposed : but they knew not how the shepherd 
 Kelaun could personate their Caliph. 
 
 Hassarack knew their thoughts ; and turning to 
 the populace, 'Where,' said she, 'O inhabitants of 
 Bagdat, where is your Caliph Raalcour? — Behold 
 him,' proceeded she, ' here in the form of this bird, 
 bufft'ring the malice of the evil Genii,— But do not
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. ICO 
 
 think, O inhabitants of Bagdat,' continued she, 
 * that Mahomet had permitted this transformation, 
 unlessRaalcour,byneglectingto attend tlie mosques 
 of the Prophet, had subjected himself to the dis- 
 pleasure of Alia. — But his sufferings are at an end, 
 and to me it is given to restore your lost Caliph to 
 his subjects.' 
 
 Thus saying, she gently stroked the bird with her 
 wand, and by degrees Raalcour was restored to his 
 former shape. 
 
 The inhabitants of Bagdat saw, with the utmost 
 joy, the pleasing transformation, and sent up their 
 public thanksgivings to Mahomet and Hassarack, 
 who had delivered them from the bondage of the 
 tyrant Kelaun, and restored to them their lawful 
 Caliph Raalcour. 
 
 Raalcour was no sooner sensible of his transform- 
 ation, than he ascended the scaffold, and kneeling 
 in the sight of all his subjects, ' Thus,' said he, ' O 
 my people, do I petition our Prophet for pardon 
 and peace. To Alia, the All-powerful, belong glory 
 and worship ; and base are we his creatures, if we 
 neglect topayourreligious services unto him. For, 
 what is the most perfect mode of life, or upright- 
 ness, free from guile, if we neglect to praise and 
 bless the author of our existence ?' 
 
 * Well pleased am I,' said Hassarack, ' to see 
 these early acknowledgments of your gratitude, O 
 Caliph : and now, having humbled yourself before 
 Alia, ascend your throne, and begin your reign of 
 justice upon these offenders against Alia and his 
 people.' 
 
 ' Let then,' said Raalcour, ' let the wretches 
 Kelaun and Guzzarat ascend the scaffold which 
 themselves have prepared for a different execution. 
 But let their deaths show tbe humanity of tl.oir 
 judge, though not the heinousness of their own 
 offences.' K
 
 130 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 
 
 ' Blay the rest of your judgments, O righteous 
 Caliph,' returned Ilassarack, ' be ever like the 
 iirst; then will your subjects obey you with joy, 
 and Mahomet, the rewarder of the faithful, will 
 hereafter receive you into the blissful seats of his 
 ever-living paradise.' 
 
 At these words, the Genius Hassarack disap- 
 peared, and the executioners led the haughty Guz- 
 zarat, and Kelaun, the son of the shepherd Canfu, 
 to the scaffold. 
 
 Kelaun ascended with a sullen reluctance : and 
 Guzzarat seemed more wishful to avoid her com- 
 panion tlianher impending fate. 
 
 Ere the axe had severed the head of the malicious 
 shepherd, Kelaun turned his eyes toward the earth, 
 and stamping with his feet thus uttered his last 
 rageful imprecations : 
 
 ' Slave have I been to evil all tTie days of my 
 life I I have toiled and earned nothing ; I have sown 
 in care, and reaped^not in merriment; I have ])oi- 
 soned the comfort of others, but no blessing haih 
 fallen into mine own lap ! hated am 1 among the 
 sons of men, blasted are the paths whereon I tread ; 
 my past actions are ravenous vultures gnawing ou 
 ray bowels, and the sharpened claws of malicious 
 spirits await my arrival among the regions of the 
 cursed. — Strike then, O axe, since the lightning of 
 Alia delays to blast me; and let ray baneful body 
 be trampled under the feet of the faithful, as the 
 traveller crusheth with his heel the venomous 
 adder!' 
 
 * Tlie words of Hassarack,' said the sage Iraca- 
 gem, arising,' are laden with the dew of instruction; 
 nor are our labours needless for the benefit of the 
 children of men, since those accursed Genii, the 
 rebellious mockers of our holy Prophet, are inces-
 
 KELAUN AND GUZZARAT. 131 
 
 santly beguiling the footsteps of the reptiles 01 
 earth : but, praised be the Prophiet whom we serve, 
 that impious race have no power over the faithi'ul 
 and obedient disciples of Mahomet. Such as have 
 refused his sacred laws, or, what is more dreadful, 
 such as have known, and yet disregarded his com- 
 mandments, are left a prey to those disobedient spi- 
 rits. But, O my sister,' continued the sage Chief, 
 to the Genius next to speak, ' the eye of day grows 
 dim, and these tabernacles of earth, whom we are 
 instructing, will shortly sink with nature into the 
 sleep of night ; nor shall we break through the laws 
 of the creation, or detain them from the blessings of 
 rest. Alia hath made the day for labour and care, 
 and the night for peace : and the works of Alia are 
 wonderful and good.' 
 
 At these words, the bright assembly arose, and 
 left the children of earth to their attendant Genii, 
 who were led into apartments, and refreshed with 
 plain and simple diet : and early the next morning 
 after their ablutions and attendance in the mosque, 
 where the race of Immortals do frequent homage 
 to their Prophet, they returned with their guardian 
 Genii to the magnificent saloon ; where, after the 
 assembly were seated, the sage Iracagem arose and 
 said: — 
 
 ' The lessons of my brethren yesterday were first 
 designed to inculcate a regular search after happi- 
 ness, which religion alone can teach us, as the Mer- 
 chant Abudah experienced in his various researches. 
 
 ' Our first and greatest duty is to obey the all- 
 powerful Alia, and to serve him in truth and humi- 
 lity ; not to mistake, like Alfouran, the creature for 
 the Creator; nor, like Sanballad, to leave the duties 
 of our respective stations unfulfilled, to follow 
 after an idle phantom in cells and caverns in the 
 cuith ; much less to mix hypocrisy with devotion.
 
 132 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 
 
 and to offend Alia, in order to deceive mankind. 
 But to love and prefer his will and his law above 
 all things, even above the pleasures and temptations 
 of the world; lest, like the Sultan Hassan Assar, 
 we add presumption to our crimes, and, having 
 been instructed in our duty, refuse to practise it. 
 Obedience to Alia will make all things easy to us ; 
 it will give bloom to Nakin Palata, and joy and 
 comfort to the sons of the faithful, while we 
 readily submit to our allotted task; and call not 
 to question, like Canfu, either the wisdom or mercy 
 of Alia, who doth often withhold what might be 
 esteemed blessings from us, in order to prevent us 
 from the storm which we neither can foresee nor 
 dissipate. To trust therefore in him, to love him, 
 to exalt him, to obey, and to give him praise, is 
 the chief end and creation of man. 
 
 ' But as mutual weakness requires mutual sup- 
 port ; so the great Alia has given to his children 
 the laws and the duties of social morality, which 
 will he explained to their tender minds by example, 
 fraught with the blessings of instruction : — There- 
 fore, O Sister,' said the sage Iracagem, to her whose 
 throne was placedbyHassarack's, ' let this favoured 
 assembly partake of your entertaining advice.' 
 
 The Genius immediately arose, and thus began 
 her delightful relation. 
 
 TALE V. 
 
 The Adventures of Urad ; or, the Fair Wanderer. 
 
 On the banks of the river Tigris, far above where 
 it washes the lofty city of the faithful, lived Nouri, 
 in poverty and widowhood ; whose employment it 
 was to tend the worm who clothes the richest and 
 the fairest with its beautiful web. Her husband.
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 133 
 
 who was a guard to the caravans of the merchants, 
 lost his life in an engagement with the wild Arabs, 
 and left the poor woman no other means of sub- 
 sisting herself, or her infant daughter Urad, but 
 by her labours among the silk-worms, which were 
 little more than sufficient to support nature, al- 
 though her labours began ere the sunbeams played 
 on the water of the Tigris, and ended not till the 
 stars were reflected from its surface. Such was the 
 business of the disconsolate JVouri, when the volup- 
 tuous Almurah was proclaimed Sultan throughout 
 his extensive dominions ; nor was it long before 
 his subjects felt the power of their Sultan : for, 
 Almurah, resolving to enclose a large tract of land 
 for hunting and sporting, commanded the inhabi- 
 tants of fourteen hundred villages to be expelled 
 from the limits of his intended enclosure. 
 
 A piteous train of helpless and ruined families 
 were in one day driven from their country and 
 livelihood, and obliged to seek for shelter amidst 
 the forests, the caves, and deserts, which surround 
 the more uncultivated banks of the Tigris. 
 
 Many passed by the cottage of Nouri, the widow ; 
 among whom she distributed what little remains of 
 provision she had saved from the earnings of her 
 labours the day before ; and, her little stock being 
 exhausted, she had nothing but wishes and prayers 
 left for the rest. 
 
 It happened, among the numerous throngs that 
 travelled by her cottage, that a youns man came 
 with wearied steps, bearing on his shoulders an 
 old and feeble woman, whom, sitting down on the 
 ground before the door of Nouri, he besought her 
 to give him a drop of water to wash the sand and 
 the dust from his parched mouth. 
 
 Nouri, having already distributed the contents 
 of her pitcher, hastened to the river to fill it for the
 
 134 URAD; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER, 
 wearied young man ; and as she went, she begged 
 a morsel of provisions from a neighbour, wliose 
 cottage stood on a rock which overlooked the flood. 
 With this, and her pitcher filled with water, the 
 good Nouri returned ; and found the feeble old 
 woman on the ground, but the young man was not 
 with her. 
 
 ' Where,' said Nouri, ' O afflicted stranger, is the 
 pious young man that dutifully bore the burthen of 
 age on his shoulders.' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the stranger, ' my son hag 
 brought me hither from the tyranny of Almurah, 
 and leaves me to perish in the deserts of Tigris : 
 no sooner were you gone for the water, than a 
 croud of young damsels came this way, and led 
 ray cruel son from his perishing mother:— but, 
 courteous stranger,' said she to Nouri, ' give me 
 of that water to drink, that my life fail not within 
 me ; for thirst, and hunger, and trouble, ai*e has- 
 tening to piat an end to the unhappy Houadir.' 
 
 The tender and benevolent Nouri invited Houa- 
 dir into the cottage, and there placed her on a 
 straw bed, and gave her the provisions, and a cup 
 of water to drink. 
 
 Houadir, being somewhat refreshed by the care 
 of Nouri, acquainted her with the cruel decree of 
 Almurah, who had turned her son out of his little 
 patrimony, where, by the labour of his hands, he 
 had for many years supported her ; and that till 
 that day, she had ever found him a most dutiful and 
 obedient son ; and concluded with a wish, that he 
 would shortly return unto his poor helpless parent. 
 Nouri did all she could to comfort the wretched 
 Houadir; and having persuaded her to rest a while 
 on the bed, returned to the labours of the day. 
 
 When her work was finished, Noari, with the 
 wages of the day, purchased some provisions, and
 
 URAD J OR THE FAIR WANDERER. 135 
 
 brought them home to feed herself and her little 
 Urad, whose portion of food, as well as her own, 
 had been distributed to the unhappy wanderers. 
 
 As Nouri was giving a small morsel to Urad, 
 Houadir awaked, and begged that Nouri would be 
 so kind as to spare her a bit of her provisions. 
 
 Immediately, before Nouri could rise, the little 
 Urad ran nimbly to the bed and offered her supper 
 to the afflicted Houadir, who received it with great 
 pleasure from her hands, being assured her mother 
 would not let Urad be a loser by her benevolence. 
 
 Houadir continued several days with the widow 
 Nouri, expecting the return of her son ; till, giving 
 over all hopes of seeing him, and observing that 
 she was burthensome to the charitable widow, she 
 one evening, after the labours of the day, thus ad- 
 dressed her hospitable friend : — 
 
 ' I perceive, benevolent Nouri, that my son has 
 forsaken me, and that I do but rob you and your 
 poor infant of the scanty provision which you, by 
 your hourly toil, are earning : wherefore, listen to 
 my proposal, and judge whether 1 offer you a suit- 
 able return : there are many parts of your business, 
 that, old as I am, 1 can help you in ; as the wind- 
 ing your silk, and feeding your worms. Employ 
 me, therefore, in such business in the day as you 
 think me capable of performing ; and at night, 
 while your necessary cares busy you about the 
 house, give me leave (as I see your labour allows 
 you no spare time) to instruct the innocent Urad 
 how to behave herself, when your death shall leave 
 her unsheltered from the storms and deceits of a 
 troublesome world.' 
 
 Nouri listened with pleasure to the words of 
 Houadir. 'Yes,' said she, ' benevolent stranger, 
 you well advise me how to portion my poor infant 
 Urad; whom I cou^d neither provide for by ray in-
 
 130 URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 
 
 dustry, nor instruct, without losing the daily bread 
 I earn for her : I perceive a little is sufficient for 
 your support ; nay, I know not how, I seem to 
 have greater plenty since you have been with me 
 than before ; whether it be owing to the blessing of 
 Heaven on you, I know not.' 
 
 * Far be it from me,' said Houadir, ' to see my 
 generous benefactress deceived; but the thinness 
 of inhabitants occasioned by the tyranny of Almu- 
 rah, is the cause that your provisions are more 
 plentiful : but yet I insist upon bearing my part in 
 the burthen of the day : and Urad shall share my 
 evening's labour.' 
 
 From this time, Houadir commenced an useful 
 member in the family of Nouri, and Urad was 
 diuly instructed by the good old stranger in the 
 pleasures and benefits of a virtuous, and the hor- 
 rors and curses of an evil life. 
 
 Little Urad was greatly rejoiced at the lessons of 
 Houadir : and was never better pleased than when 
 &he was listening to the mild and pleasing instruc- 
 tions of her affable mistress. 
 
 It was the custom of Houadir, whenever she 
 taught Urad any new rule or caution, to give her 
 a pepper-corn ; requiring of her, as often as she 
 looked at them, to remember the lessons which she 
 learnt at the time she received them. 
 
 In this manner Urad continued to be instructed; 
 greatly improving, as well in virtue and religion, as 
 in comeliness and beauty, till she was near woman's 
 estate ; so that Nouri could scarcely believe she 
 was the mother of a daughter so amiable and 
 graceful in person and manners. Neither was 
 Urad unskilled in the labours of the family, or the 
 silkworm ; for, Nouri growing old and sickly, she 
 almost constantly, by her industry, supported the 
 whole cottage.
 
 URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 137 
 
 One evening, as Houadir was lecturing her at- 
 tentive pupil, Nouri, who lay sick on the straw 
 bed, called Urad to her. 
 
 * My dear daughter,' said Nouri, 'I feel, alas! 
 more for you than myself : while Houadir lives, 
 you will have indeed a hetter instructor than your 
 poor mother was capable of being unto you : but 
 what will my innocent lamb, my lovely Urad do, 
 when she is left alone, the helpless prey of craft, or 
 lust, or power ? Consider my dear child, that Alia 
 would not send you into the world to be neces- 
 sarily and unavoidably wicked: therefore always 
 depend upon the assistance of our holy Prophet 
 when you do right, and let no circunastance of hfe, 
 nor any persuasion, ever bias you to live otherwise, 
 than according to the chaste and virtuous precepts 
 of the religious Houadir. May Alia, and the 
 Prophet of the faithful, ever bless and preserve the 
 innocence and chastity of my dutiful and affec- 
 tionate Urad !' 
 
 The widow Nouri spoke not again ; her breath 
 for ever fled from its confinement ; and her body 
 was delivered to the waters of the Tigris. 
 
 The inconsolable Urad had now her most diffi- 
 cult lesson to learn from the patient Houadir; 
 and scarcely did she think it dutiful to moderate 
 the violence of her grief. 
 
 ' Sorrows,' said Houadir, * O duteous Urad, 
 which arise from sin, or evil actions, cannot be as- 
 suaged without contrition or amendment of life; 
 there the soul is deservedly afflicted, and must feel 
 before it can be cured : such sorrows may my 
 amiable pupil never experience! But the afflic- 
 tions of mortality arealike the portions of piety or 
 iniquity ; it is necessary that we should be tausht to 
 part with the desirable things of this life by 
 degrees, and that, by the frequency of such losses,
 
 138 ubad; or, the fair wanderer. 
 
 our affections should be loosened from their earthly 
 attachments. ^Vhile you continue good, be not 
 dejected, O my obedient Urad; and remember, it 
 is one part of virtue to bear with patience and re- 
 signation the unalterable decrees of Heaven ; not 
 but that 1 esteem your sorrow, which arises from 
 gratitude, duty, and affection : I do not teach my 
 pupil to part with her dearest friends without reluc- 
 tance, or wish to be unconcerned at the loss of 
 those, who, by a marvellous love, have sheltered 
 her from all those stonns which must in a moment 
 have overwhelmed helpless innocence. Only re- 
 member that your tears be the tears of resig- 
 nation, and that your sighs confess a heart humbly 
 yielding to His will, who ordereth all things ac- 
 cording to his infinite knowledge and goodness.' 
 
 * O pious Houadir,' replied Urad, 'just are thy 
 precepts, it was Alia that created my best of pa- 
 rents, and Alia is pleased to take her from me ; 
 far be it from me, though an infinite sufferer, to 
 dispute His will : the loss indeed wounds me sorely, 
 yet will I endeavour to bear the blow with patience 
 and resignation.' 
 
 Houadir still continued her kind lessons and in- 
 structions, and Urad, with a decent solemnity, at- 
 tended both her labours and her teacher, who was 
 so pleased with the fruits which she saw spring 
 forth from the seeds of virtue that she had sown in 
 the breast of her pupil, that she now began to 
 leave her more to lierself, and exhorted her to set 
 apart some portion of each day to pray to her 
 Prophet, and frequent meditation and recollection 
 of the rules she liad given her, that so her mind 
 might never be suffered to grow forgetful of the 
 truths she had treasured up : — ' For,' said the pro- 
 vident Houadir, ' when it shall please the Prophet 
 to snatch me also from you, my dear Urad will 
 then have only the pepper-corns to assist her.*
 
 tjrad; or, the fair wanderer. 139 
 
 * And how, my kind governess,' said Urad, * will 
 those corns assist me ?' ' They will,' answered 
 Houadir, ' each of them, (if you remember the 
 precepts I gave you with them, but not otherwise,) 
 be serviceable in the times of your necessities.' 
 
 Urad, with great reluctance, from that time, was 
 obliged to go without her evening lectures; which 
 loss affected her much ; for she knew no greater 
 pleasure in life, than hanging over Houadir's per- 
 suasive tongue, and hearing, with fixed attention, 
 the sweet doctrines of prudence, chastity, and 
 virtue. 
 
 As Urad, according to her usual custom (after 
 having spent some few early hours at her employ- 
 ment,) advanced toward the bed to call her kind 
 instructress, whose infirmities would not admit her 
 to rise betimes, she perceived that Houadir was 
 risen from her bed. 
 
 The young virgin was amazed at the novelty of 
 her instructress's behaviour, especially as she sel- 
 dom moved without assistance ; and hastened into 
 a little enclosure to look after her : but not finding 
 Houadir there, she went to the neighbouring cot- 
 tages, none of the inhabitants of which could give 
 any account of the good old matron : nevertheless 
 the anxious Urad continued her search, looking all 
 around the woods and forest, and often peeping 
 over the rocks of the Tigris, as fearful that some 
 accident might have befallen her. In this fruit- 
 less labour the poor virgin fatigued herself, till the 
 sun, as tired of her toils, refused any longer to 
 assist her search: when, returning to her lonely 
 cot, she spent the night in tears and lamentations. 
 The helpless Urad now gave herself up entirely 
 to grief; and the remembrance of her affectionate 
 mother added a double portion of sorrows to her 
 heart ; she neglected to open her lonely cottage.
 
 140 TjRad; or, the pair wanderer. 
 
 and went not forth to the labours of the silk- 
 worm : but day after day, with little or no nourish- 
 ment, she continued weeping the loss of Houadir, 
 her mild instructress, and Nouri, her affectionate 
 mother. 
 
 The neighbouring cottagers, observing that Urad 
 came no longer to the silk-worms, and that her 
 dwelling was daily shut up, after some time 
 knocked at her cottage, and demanded if Urad the 
 daughter of Xouri was living? Urad, seeing the 
 concourse of people, came weeping and trembling 
 toward the door, and asked them the cause of 
 their coming. 
 
 ' O Urad,' said her neighbours, ' we saw you, 
 not long ago, seeking your friend Houadir, and we 
 feared you also were missing, as you have neither 
 appeared among us, nor attended your daily 
 labours among the worms, who feed and provide 
 for us by their subtle spinning.' 
 
 ' O my friends,' answered Urad ; ' suffer a 
 wretched maid to deplore the loss of her dearest 
 friends ! Nouri, from whose breasts I sucked my 
 natural life, is now a prey to the vultures on the 
 banks of the Tigris ; and Houadir, from whom I 
 derive my better life, is passed away from me like 
 a vision in the night.' 
 
 Her rustic acquaintance laughed at these sorrows 
 of the virgin Drad. ' Alas,' said one, ' Urad 
 grieves, that now she has to work for one, instead 
 of three.' — ' Nay,' cried another, ' I wish my old 
 folks were as well bestowed.' — ' And I,' said a third, 
 ' were our house vid of the old-fashioned lumber 
 that fills it at present, (my superannuated father 
 and mother,) would soon bring a healthy j'oung 
 swain to supply their places with love and affec- 
 tion.' — * Ay, true,' answered two or three more, 
 ' we must look out a clever yoang fellow for Urad :
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 141 
 
 Nvhom sliall she have V — * O, if that be all,' said a 
 crooked old maid, who was famous for match- 
 making, ' I will send Darandu to comfort her, be- 
 fore night ; and, if I mistake not, he very well 
 knows his business.' — * Well, pretty Urad,' cried 
 they all, ' Darandu will soon be here ; he is fishing 
 on the Tigris; and it is but just that the river 
 which has robbed you of one comfort, should give 
 you a better.' — At this speech the rest laughed 
 very heartily, and they all ran away, crying out, 
 ' O, she will do very well when Darandu ap- 
 proaches.' 
 
 Urad, though she could despise the trifling of 
 her country neighbours, yet felt an oppression on 
 her heart at the name of Darandu, who was a youth 
 of incomparable beauty, and added to the charms 
 of his person an engaging air, which was far above 
 the reach of the rest of the country swains, who 
 lived on those remote banks of the Tigris. — * But, 
 O Houadir, O Nouri,' said the afflicted virgin to 
 herself, ' never shall Urad seek, in the arms of a 
 lover, to forget the bounties and precepts of so 
 kind a mistress, and so indulgent a parent.' 
 
 These reflections hurried the wretched Urad inta 
 her usual sorrowful train of thoughts, and she 
 spent the rest of the day in tears and weeping, 
 calling for ever on Nouri and Houadir, and wishing 
 that the Prophet would permit her to follow them 
 out of a world, where she foresaw neither comfort 
 nor peace. 
 
 In the midst of these melancholy meditations, 
 she was disturbed by a knocking at the door. 
 Urad arose with trembling, and asked, ' Who was 
 there V — ' It is one,' answered a voice, in the softei^t 
 tone, ' who seeketh comfort, and cannot find it; 
 who desires peace, and it is far from him.' 
 
 ' Alas I" answered Urad, ' few are the comforts of
 
 142 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 
 
 this cottage, and ].caceisa stranger to this mourn- 
 ful roof: depart, O traveller, whosoever thou art, 
 and suffer the disconsolate Urad to indulge in sor- 
 rows greater than those from which you wish to be 
 relieved.' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the voice without, ' the griefs 
 of the beautiful Urad are my griefs ; and the sor- 
 rows which afflict her, rend the soul of the wretched 
 Darniidu !' 
 
 • Whatever maybe the motive for this charitable 
 visit, Daraudu,' answered Urad, ' let me beseech 
 you to depart : for, ill does it become a forlorn 
 virgin to admit the conversation of the youths that 
 surround her : leave me, therefore, O swain, ere 
 •want of decency make you appear odious i:i the 
 sight of the virgius who inhabit the rocky banks of 
 the rapid Tigris.' 
 
 ' To convince the lovely Urad/ answered Da- 
 randu, ' that I came to soothe her cares, and con- 
 dole with her in her losses (which I heard but 
 this evening), I now will quit this dear spot, which 
 contains tiie treasure of my heart, as, however 
 terrible the parting is tome, I rest satisfied that it 
 pleases the fair conqueror of my heart, whose 
 peace to Darandu is more precious than the pome- 
 granate in the sultry noon, or the silver scales of 
 ten thousand fishes enclosed in the nets of my 
 skilful comrades.' 
 
 Darandu then left the door of the cottage, and 
 Urad reclined on the bed, till sleep finished her 
 toils, and for a time released her from the severe 
 afflictions of her unguarded situation. 
 
 Early in the morning the fair Urad arose, and 
 directed her steps to the rocks of tl-e Tigris, either 
 invited thither by the melancholy reflections which 
 her departed mother occasioned, or willing to take 
 a nearer and more unobserved view of the gentle 
 Darandu.
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 143 
 
 Darandu, who was just about to launch his 
 vessel into the river, perceived the beauteous 
 mourner on the rocks ; but he was too well versed 
 in love affairs to take any notice of her ; he rather 
 turned from Urad, and endeavoured, by his be- 
 haviour, to persuade her that he had not observed 
 her ; for it was enough for him to know that he 
 was not indifferent to her. 
 
 Urad, though she hardly knew the cause of her 
 morning walk, yet continued on the rocks till Da- 
 randu had taken in his nets, and with his com- 
 panions was steering up the stream, in quest of the 
 fishes of the Tigris. She then returned to her cot- 
 tage, more irresolute in her thoughts, but less than 
 ever inclined to the labours of her profession. 
 
 At the return of the evening, she was anxious 
 lest Darandu should renew his visit; an anxiety 
 wliich, though it arose from fear, was yet nearly 
 allied to hope : nor was she less solicitous about 
 provisions, as all her little stock was entirely ex- 
 hausted, and she had no other prospect before her 
 than to return to her labours, which her sorrows 
 had rendered irksome and disagreeable to her. 
 
 While she was meditating on these things, she 
 heard a knocking at the door, which fluttered her 
 little less than the fears of hungei', or the sorrows 
 of her lonely life. 
 
 For some time she had not couraee to answer, 
 till, the knocking being repeated, she faintly asked 
 who was at the door? 
 
 ' It is Lahnar,' answered a female : * Lahnar, 
 your neighbour, seoks to give Urad comfort, and 
 to condole with the distressed mourner of a mother 
 and, a friend.' 
 
 ' Lahnar,' answered Urad, ' is then a friend to 
 the afflicted, and kindly seeks to alleviate the 
 sorrows of the wretched Urad.' She then opened
 
 14-4 l-rad; or, the fair avanderer, 
 
 the door, and Lalinar entered with a basket on her 
 head. 
 
 ' Kind Lahnar,' said the fair mourner, ' leave your 
 burthen at the door, and enter into this cottage of 
 affliction. Alas! alas! there once sat Nouri, my 
 ever affectionate mother, and there Houadir, my 
 kind counsellor and director : but now are their 
 seats vacant, and sorrow and grief are the only 
 companions of the miserable Urad I' 
 
 * Your losses are certainly great,' answered Lah- 
 nar ; * but you must endeavour to bear them with 
 patience, especially as they are the common changes 
 and alterations of life ; your good mother Nouri 
 lived to a great age ; and Houadir, though a kind 
 friend, may yet be succeeded by one as amiable : 
 but what I am most alarmed at, O Urad, is your 
 manner of life ; we no longer see you busied 
 among the leaves of the mulberries, or gathering 
 the bags of silk, or preparing them for the wheels; 
 you purchase no provision amongst us ; you seek no 
 comfort in society ; you live like the mole buried 
 under the earth, which neither sees nor is seen.' 
 
 * My sorrows indeed, hitherto,' replied Urad, 
 ' have prevented my labour ; but to-morrow I shall 
 again rise to my wonted employment.' 
 
 ' But even to night,' said Lahnar, * let my friend 
 take some little nourishment, that she may rise re- 
 freshed ; for fasting will deject as well as grief ; 
 and suffer me to partake with you ; and see, in 
 this basket I have brought my provisions, some 
 boiled rice, and a few fish, which my kind brother 
 Darandu brought me this evening from the river 
 Tigris.' 
 
 ' Excuse me, kind Lahnar,' answered Urad, 'but 
 I must refuse your offer; grief has driven away ap- 
 petite to aught but itself, far from me, and I am not 
 solicitous to take provisions which I cannot use.'
 
 urad; ok, the fair wanderer. 145 
 
 ' At least,' replied Lahnar, ' permit me to sit be- 
 side you, and eat of wliat is here before us.' 
 
 Upon which, without other excuses, Lahr-ar 
 emptied her basket, and set a bowl of rice and 
 fish before Urad, and began to feed heartily on 
 that which she had brought for herself. 
 
 Urad was tempted by hunger, and the example 
 of Lahnar, to begin : but she was anxious about 
 tasting the fish of Darandu 3 wherefore she first 
 attempted the boiled rice, though her appetite was 
 most inclined to the fish, of which she at last ate 
 very heartily, when she recollected, that as she 
 had partaken with Lahnar, it was equal, whatever 
 part she accepted. 
 
 Lahnar having finished her meal, and advised 
 Urad to think of some methods of social life, took 
 her leave, and left the unsettled virgin to meditate 
 on her strange visitor. 
 
 Urad, though confused, could not help expressing 
 gome pleasure at this visit ; for such is the blessing 
 of society, that it will always give comfort to 
 those who have been disused to its sweet effects. 
 
 But Urad, though pleased with the friendship of 
 
 Lahnar, yet was confounded, when, some few 
 
 minutes after, she perceived her again returning. 
 
 ' What,' said Urad, ' brings back Lahnar to the 
 
 sorrows of the cottage ?' 
 
 * Urad,' said Lahnar, ' I will rest with my friend 
 to-night; lor, the shades of night cast horrors 
 around, and 1 dare not disturb my father's cottage 
 by my late approach.' 
 
 As they prepared for their homely bed, Urad turn- 
 ing round, beheld Lalmar's breast uncovered, and 
 saw, by the appearance, it was no femaleshewas pre- 
 ]iaring to receive into her bed,. She immediately 
 shrieked out, and Darandu, the fictitious Lahnar, 
 leajjtd ea^eily forward, and caught horiu his arms 
 I.
 
 14G URAD 3 OH, THE FAIR WANDERER. 
 
 ' delicious Urad,' said he, ' I die, I die without 
 you : your tears, your calls are vain: the cottage is 
 lonely, and no traveller walks by night to meet 
 the wild beasts of the forest; therefore let us take 
 our fill of love ; for Daraudu will not otherwise 
 be satisfied.' 
 
 Urad, full of trembling, confusion, horror, and 
 despair, raved in his arms, but could not get free. 
 He still pressed her close, and endeavoured to puU 
 her toward the bed ; when she recollecting her 
 lost friend Houadir, felt for a pepper-corn, and let 
 it fall to the ground. 
 
 A violent rapping was In a moment heard at the 
 cottage : at which Urad redoubled her outcries, 
 and Darandu, with shame and confusion, quitted 
 Ills mistress, and looked trembling toward the 
 door. 
 
 Urad ran forward and opened the door ; when 
 the son of Houadir entered, and asked Urad the 
 reason of her cries. 
 
 • O thou blessed angel,' said Urad, ' but for you 
 that wicked wretch, disguised in his sister's 
 clothes, had ruined the too credulous Urad.' 
 
 But Darandu was fled; as guilt is ever fearful, 
 mean, and base. 
 
 ' Now, Urad,' said the son of Houadir, ' before 
 you close your doors upon another man, let me re- 
 sume my former features.' Upon which, Urad 
 looked, and beheld her old friend Houadir. 
 
 At the sight of Houadir, Urad was equally as- 
 tonished and abashed. ' Why blushes Urad V 
 said Houadir ; ' are her blushes the blushes of 
 guilt?' 
 
 ' How, O Genius,' said Urad, ' for such I per- 
 ceive thou art, how is Urad guilty ? I invited not 
 Darandu hither, I wi<hed not for him.' 
 
 'Take care,' answered Houadir, 'what you say :
 
 URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 14; 
 
 if you wished not for him, you hardly wished him 
 away ; and but for your imprudence, he had not 
 attacked you. Consider, how have your days 
 been employed since I left you ? Have you con- 
 tinued to watch the labours of the silk-worm? 
 have you repeated the lessons I gave you ? or has 
 the time of Urad been consumed in idleness and 
 disobedience? Has she shaken off her dependence 
 on Mahomet, and indulged the unavailing sorrows 
 of her heart V 
 
 'Alas!' answered the fair Urad, 'repeat no 
 more, my ever-honoured Houadir; I have indeed 
 been guilty, under the mask of love and affection; 
 and I now plainly see the force of your first rule, 
 that idleness is the beginning of all evil and vice. 
 Yes, my dearest Houadir, had I attended to your 
 instructions, had I given no handle to Darandu's 
 wicked intentions : but yet methinks some sor- 
 rows were allowable for the loss of such a mother, 
 and such a friend.' 
 
 ' Sorrows,' answered Houadir, * proceed from the 
 heart, and, totally indulged, soon require a change 
 and vicissitude in our minds : wherefore, in the 
 midst of your griefs, your feet involuntarily wan- 
 dered after Darandu, and your soul, softened by 
 idle sighs, was the more easily impressed by the 
 deceits of his tongue. 
 
 ' But this remember, Urad ; for I must, I find, 
 repeat an old instruction to you, that, of all things 
 in the world, nothing should so much engage a 
 woman's attention as the avenues which lead to her 
 heart. Such are the wiles and deceits of men, 
 that they are rarely to be trusted with the most 
 advanced post : give them but footing, though that 
 footing be innocent; and they will work night and 
 day till their wishes are accomplished. Trust not, 
 therefore, to yourself alone, nor suffer your heart
 
 148 URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WAKDERER. 
 
 to plead in their favour, lest it become as much 
 your enemy as the tempter, man. Place your 
 security in flight, and avoid every evil, every gay 
 desire, lest it lead you into danger: for hard it is 
 to turn the head, and look backward, when a 
 beautiful or agreeable object is before you. Re- 
 member my instructions, O Urad ; make a prudent 
 use of your pepper-corns, and leave this place, 
 which holds a man so sensible of your softness, 
 and resolute in his own dark and subtle intention.' 
 
 Urad was about to thank Houadir, but the 
 Genius was fled : and the eyelids of the morning 
 were opening in the East. 
 
 Urad in a little wallet, packed up her small 
 stock of necessaries, and full of terror, and full of 
 uncertainty, struck into the forest, and, without 
 reflection, took the widest path that ofiered. 
 And first, it was her care to repeat over, deliberately, 
 the lessons of Houadir. She then travelled slowly 
 forward, often looking, and fearing to behold the 
 wicked Darandu at her heels. 
 
 After walking through the forest for the greater 
 part of the day, she came to a steep descent, on 
 each side overshadowed with lofty trees ; this she 
 walked down, and came to a small spot of ground, 
 surrounded by liills, woods, and rocks. Here she 
 found a spring of water, and sat on the grass to 
 refresh herself after the travels of the day. 
 
 As Urad's meal was almost at an end, she heard 
 various voices issuing from the woods, on the hills 
 opposite to that which she came down. Her 
 heart beat quick at this alarm; and, recollecting 
 the advice of Houadir, she began to repeat the les- 
 sons of her instructress, and ere long she perceived, 
 through the trees, several men coming down the 
 hill, who, at the sight of her, gave a loud halloo, 
 and ran forward, each being eager who should first 
 seize the prize.
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderes. 149 
 
 Urad, trembling, and sighing at her danger, for- 
 got not to drop one of her pepper-corns ; and im- 
 mediately she found herself changed into a pismire, 
 and with great pleasure she looked for a hole in the 
 ground, and crept into it. 
 
 The robbers coming down to the bottom of the 
 vale, were surprised to find their prize eloped ; but 
 they divided into separate bodies, resolved to hunt 
 till night; and then appointed that little vale as the 
 place of rendezvous. 
 
 Urad, perceiving that they were gone, wished 
 herself into her original form : but, alas ! her wish 
 was not granted ; and the once beautiful Urad 
 still continued an ugly pismire. 
 
 Late at night the robbers returned ; and the 
 moon shining bright, reflected a gloomy horror 
 upon their despairing faces: Urad shuddered at 
 the sight of them, though so well concealed ; and 
 dared hardly peep out of her hole : so diflBcult is it 
 to forget our former fears. 
 
 The gang resolved to spend the rest of the night 
 in that place, and therefore unloaded their wallets, 
 and spread their wine and provisions on the banks 
 of the spring, grumbling and cursiog each other all 
 the time for their unfortunate search. 
 
 * I would to Alia,' says one, ' I had taken hold 
 of her; and I would soon have kissed her into a 
 good humour.' — ' You ugly wretch,' said another, 
 * she would have died at the thoughts of you : but 
 if I had caught her' — ' Yes,' said a third, ' with 
 those bloody hands, that have butchered two 
 maidens already to-day.' — ' Ay,' returned he, ' and 
 she should have suffered the same sauce.' — ' Well,' 
 answered the captain of the gang, ^ if I had first 
 secured her, she should have gone fairly round 
 among j'ou all.' 
 
 Urad heard this with the utmost horror and in-
 
 150 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 
 
 diocnation ; and praised continually the gracious 
 Alia, who had rescued her from such inhuman 
 wretches : while they, with singing and drinking, 
 spent the greatest part of the night, and wishing 
 that their comrades in the other part of the forest 
 had been with them ; and at length falling into 
 drunkenness and sleep, left the world to silence 
 and peace. 
 
 Urad, finding them fast asleep, crawled out of 
 her hole, and going to the first, she stung him in 
 each eye : and thus she went round to them all. 
 
 The poison of the little pismire working in their 
 eyes, in a short time occasioned them to awake in 
 the utmost tortures ; and perceiving they were 
 blind, and feeling the pain, they each supposed his 
 neighbour had blinded him in order to get away 
 with the booty. This so enraged them, that, 
 feeling about, they fell upon one another, and in 
 a short time almost the whole gang was demo- 
 lished. 
 
 Urad beheld with astonishment the effect of her 
 stings; and at a wish resumed her pristine form, 
 saying at the same time to herself, ' I now perceive 
 that Providence is able by the most insignificant 
 means to work the greatest purposes.' 
 
 Continuing her journey through the forest, she 
 was terribly afraid of meeting with the second 
 band of robbers, and therefore she directed her 
 steps with the greatest caution and circumspection. 
 
 As she walked forward, and cast her eyes all 
 around, and stopped at every motion of the wind, 
 she saw the son of Houadir coming to meet her in 
 the path in which she was travelling. 
 
 At this sight, Urad ran toward him, and with 
 joy begged her old governess would unmask her- 
 self, and entertain her with instruction and per- 
 suasion.
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 151 
 
 ' No, my dear child,' answered the son of Houa- 
 dir, * that I cannot do at present ; the time is not 
 as yet come. I will first, as you have been tried, 
 lead you to the palace of the Genii of the forest, 
 and present your unspotted innocence before them : 
 for, O my sweet Urad, my heavenly pupil,' said 
 he, kissing and taking her in his arms, ' your 
 virtue is tried ; I have found you worthy of the 
 lessons which I gave you. I foresaw evils might 
 befall you, and therefore I took pity on your in- 
 nocence, and lived with Nouri, your mother, that 
 I might train up my beloved Urad in the paths 
 of virtue : and, now your trial is passed, Urad 
 shall enjoy the happiness of a Genius.' 
 
 Urad, though somewhat confounded at Houadir's 
 embrace under the appearance of a man, and the 
 son of Houadir, turning to the left, led Urad into 
 a little by-path, so concealed, that few, if any, 
 might ever find its beginning. After a long walk 
 through various turnings and intricate windings, 
 they came to a small mean cottage, where, the son 
 of Houadir leading the way, Urad followed. 
 
 The son of Houadir striking fire with his stick, a 
 bright flame arose from the centre of the floor, into 
 which he cast divers herbs, and repeating some en- 
 chantments, the back part of the cottage opened, 
 and presented to the view of Urad a beautiful 
 dome, where she saw sitting round a table, a nu- 
 merous assembly of gay persons of both sexes. 
 
 The son of Houadir, leading in Urad, said, 'This, 
 my dear pupil, is the assembly of the Genii of the 
 forest:' — and, presenting her to the company, ' Be- 
 hold,' said he, ' the beautiful and well-tried Urad : 
 — but here you may cast off your reserve, fair 
 maid, and indulge in the innocent pleasures of the 
 Genii of the forest.' 
 The son of Houadir then led her to the table,
 
 152 URAD; OR, THE FAIR ^^•A^•DERER. 
 
 and seated heron the same sofa with himself. The 
 remainder of the day was spent in mirth and plea- 
 sure; nor did the female Genii refuse the gay ad- 
 vances of their partners. 
 
 Urad, having never beheld any thing splendid or 
 magnificent, was sreatly delighted at the gay com- 
 pany and beautiful saloon; nor did she seem to re- 
 ceive the caresses of the sou of Houadir so re- 
 luctantly as before. 
 
 At night, Urad was shown a glorious apartment 
 to rest in, and the son of Houadir attended her. — 
 ' My dear Houadir,' said Urad, "when shall I be- 
 hold your proper shape ? when shall I see you as 
 my tutelary genius?' 
 
 ' That,' answered the son of Houadir, * I shall be 
 in every shape : but call neither one nor the other 
 my proper sha-pe ; for to a Genius, all shapes are 
 assumed : neither is this my proper shape, nor the 
 wrinkles of an old woman : but, to confess the 
 truth, O beautiful Urad, from the first moment of 
 your birth, I resolved to make you my bride, and 
 therefore did I so patiently watch your growing 
 years, and instructed you in the fear of vice and 
 the love of virtue. Come, therefore, O beautiful 
 virgin, and let me, in those precious arms, reap the 
 fruit of my long labour and toil.' 
 
 Urad, astonished at the word's of the son of 
 Houadir, knew not what answer to make : but the 
 natural timidity of her sex, and the strangeness of 
 the proposal, filled her with strange apprehensions : 
 however, she begged at least that the Genius would, 
 for a time, leave her to herself, that the blushes of 
 her cheeks might be covered in solitude. 
 
 ' No, my lovely Urad>' answered the son of 
 Houadir, ' never, never will thy faithful Genius 
 leave thee, till thou hast blessed me with the pos- 
 session of what I hold dearer than even my spiritual 
 nature.'
 
 TIRAD; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 153 
 
 'Why, then,' said Urad, 'didst thou bestow so 
 many pepper-coms upon uie, as they now will be- 
 come useless V 
 
 ' ^'ot useless,' said the son of Houadir; 'they 
 are indeed little pre5ervati\es against danger : but 
 I have the seeds of some mefons which will not 
 only rescue you, but always preserve you from 
 harm. — Here, faitliful Urad,' continued he, * take 
 these seeds, and whenever you are fearful, swal- 
 low one of these ; and no dangers shall surround 
 you,' 
 
 Urad thankfully received the seeds : — ' And 
 what,' said she, ' must I do with the pepper- 
 corns V 
 
 'Give them,' said the son of Houadir, * to me, 
 and I will endue them with stronger virtues : and 
 thou shalt by them have power also over others, as 
 well as to defend thyself.' 
 
 Urad pulled the pejjper-corns out of her bag, and 
 presented them to the son of Houadir, whose eyes 
 flashed with joy at the sight ; and he immediately 
 thrust them into the folds of his garments. 
 
 ' U son of Houadir, what hast thou done ?' said 
 Urad. 
 
 ' 1 have,' answered the false son of Houadir, 
 ' gained the full possession of my lovely Urad, and 
 now may address her in my proper shape.' So say- 
 ing, be resumed his natural figure, and became like 
 a satyr of the wood ! 
 
 ' 1 am,' said he, ' O beautiful Urad, the enchanter 
 Repah, who range in the solitude of the forest of 
 the Tigris, and live and solace myself upon the 
 beauties who venture into my haunts. You I saw 
 surrounded by the influence of the Genius Houadir, 
 and therefore was obliged to use artifice to gain 
 my dear, dear charmer. — But why waste I time 
 in words, when the fulness of thy ripe beauties
 
 lot URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 
 
 tempts my closest embrace ?' So saying he rushed 
 on Urad, and stifled her with his nauseous salutes. 
 The poor deluded victim, with tears in her eyes, 
 implored his mercy and forbearance : but he laughed 
 at her tears, and told her, her eyes glittered the 
 brigliter for tliem. 
 
 * What !' cried the enchanter, ' shall I wish 
 your sorrows at an end, which so tumultuously 
 heave those worlds of bliss, or stop by kindness 
 those sighs which send forth more than Arabian 
 perfumes ? No, no ; I love to enjoy nature in her 
 fullest workings; and think it a higher bliss to 
 ride on the stormy tempest than through the gentle 
 breeze.' 
 
 As he spake thus, he again clasped the wretched 
 Urad in his arms, and, mad with furious lust, 
 forced her to the sofa; while she, with shrieks 
 and cries, filled the apartment with vain lamen- 
 tations. 
 
 As the enchanter was dragging the disconsolate 
 virgin Urad to the sofa, she, in a fit of despair, 
 again put her hands into the bag, whence she had 
 fatally resigned the pepper-corns; and felt about 
 in agonies for her lost treasure. And now finding 
 none, and perceiving that the Genius Houadir 
 attended not to her cries, she was drawing out 
 her hand ; when, in a corner of the bag, she felt 
 one pepper-corn, which had before escaped her 
 search. 
 
 She instantly drew it out, and throwing it on 
 the ground, the enchanter quitted his hold, and 
 stood motionless before her; the apartments va- 
 nished, and she found herself with him in a dark 
 hut, with various kinds of necromantic instruments 
 about her. 
 
 Urad, though fearful, yet was so much overcome 
 with fatigue and struggling, that she sunk on the
 
 urad; or, the fair wanderer. 155 
 
 ground; and, happily for her, the enchanter was 
 no longer in a condition to persecute her. 
 
 ' Curse on my folly !' said he, as he stood fixed to 
 the ground, ' that I neglected to ask for the bag it- 
 self, which held the gifts of the Genius Houadir: 
 her pretty pupil had then been sacrificed to my 
 desires, in spite of the many fine lessons she had 
 been taught by that pitiful and enthusiastic Genius ! 
 but now by chance, and not by the merit of thy 
 virtues, or thy education, art thou delivered from 
 my seraglio, where vice reigns triumphant, cold 
 modesty and colder chastity are excluded, to make 
 room for the mixed revels of what pious cheats 
 call lustful rioters. — But this grieves me not so 
 much, to lose a sickly girl, as that I find a superior 
 power condemns me to declare to you the causes 
 of your error. 
 
 • Know, then, Urad, (I speak not from myself, 
 but He speaks, who, from casual evil, can work out 
 certain good,) He forces me to declare, that no 
 specious appearance, no false colours, should in- 
 cline the virtuous heart to listen to the wiles of 
 deceit : for evil then comes most terrible, when it 
 is cloked under friendship. Why then had Urad 
 so great an opinion of her own judgment, as to 
 confide in the false apjjearance of the son of Hou- 
 adir, when she might have consulted her faithful 
 monitors ? The falling of a pepper-corn would 
 have taught her to trust to no appearances, nor 
 would she have parted with her pepper-corns, which 
 were to refresh in her memory the sentiments of 
 virtue, chastity, and honour ; no, not to Houadir 
 herself. No adviser can be good, who would de- 
 stroy what he himself has first inculcated ; and no 
 appearance ought to bias us to receive as truths, 
 those things which are contrary to virtue and re- 
 ligion. How then did Urad keep to the instruc-
 
 15G urad; or, the fair wanderer. 
 
 tions of Houadir? But if Houaclir really had bred 
 her up for the purposes of lust, and taught her 
 only the paths of virtue, to keep her from others ; 
 of all persons, they are the most to be guarded 
 against, who, having the power of educating the 
 female mind, too often presume upon the influence 
 which such intimate connexions give them ; they 
 therefore, as the most base and ungrateful, should 
 be most cautiously watched and resolutely re- 
 pulsed.' 
 
 Tiius spake the enchanter, and no more; his 
 mouth closed up, and he stood fixed and motionless ; 
 and Urad finding her spirits somewhat recovered, 
 hastened out of the hut, and perceived that it was 
 morning. 
 
 She had now no more pepper-corns to depend 
 upon ; wherefore she cried to Houadir to succour 
 her ; but the genius was deaf to her entreaties. 
 
 * Poor miserable wretch,' said Urad to herself, 
 * what will become of thee, enclosed in a forest 
 through which thou knowest no path ? — But,' con- 
 tinued she, ' why should I not examine the en- 
 chanter, who is yet perhaps immoveable in the cot- 
 tage ? I saw him fold them in the plaits of his gar- 
 ments ; and they may yet become mine.' 
 
 So saying, she returned to the hut ; where enter- 
 in^i, the very sight of the dumb enchanter affright- 
 ened her so much, that it was a long time before 
 she could venture near him. At length she put out 
 her hand,and pulled forth her beloved pepper-corns, 
 the enchanter still standing motionless. 
 
 Away flew Urad like lightning from the hut, and 
 ran till she had again reached the road from which 
 she had been decoyed. 
 
 She continued her journeying for seven days, 
 feeding on the fruits of the forest, and sleeping in 
 tlie most covert thickets.
 
 URAD ; OR THE FAIR WANDERER. 1,57 
 
 The eighth day, as she was endeavouring to pass a 
 ford, where a small rivulet had been swelled by the 
 rains, she perceivedalargebodyof horsemen riding 
 through the woods ; and doubted not but it was the 
 remainder of the gang of robbers whom she had 
 before met with. 
 
 Urad was now in some measure reconciled to 
 danger; and therefore without much fear, dropped 
 a pepper-corn, and expected relief. 
 
 The pepper-corn had been dropped some time, 
 the horsemen advanced, and no one appeared to her 
 succour. 
 
 * Alas !' said Urad, ' why has Houadir deceived 
 me ? Neither her advice, nor her magical pepper- 
 corns, can relieve me from these lustful and cruel 
 robbers. Better had I fallen a prey to Daiandn, 
 better had I sated the lust of one enchantei, than 
 imdergo the various curses of so many moiistt rs, O 
 Genius, Genius, why hast thou forsaken me in my 
 severest trials V 
 
 By this time the robbers were come up, and were 
 highly rejoiced to find such a beautiful prize. 
 
 'This only,' said the leader, 'was what we 
 wanted ; a fair one to regale with : and this dainty 
 morsel will serve us all. Here isluxury,myfrienfls, 
 such as Almurah cannot find in his whole seraglio ; 
 let him be dissatisfied with a hundred females, 
 while we, my friends, will be satisfied with one ! 
 She shall serve us all, and me first.' 
 
 ' But first,' said one, 'let us all embrace her; for 
 I never yet had the pleasure to embrace a virgin, 
 except one that I stabbed first.' 
 
 At this he leaped from his horse ; and the trem- 
 bling Urad gave a loud shriek, which was answered 
 from the woods, by the roarings of a hundred lions. 
 
 ' O Aha,' said the chief, * the lions are upon us.' 
 
 ' That may be,' said he who was dismounted ;
 
 lo8 URAD ; OR, THE TAIR WANDERER. 
 
 • but were the whole world set against me, I would 
 secure my prize.' So saying, he took Urad in his 
 arms to place her on his horse. 
 
 The roarings of the lions continued, and many of 
 them came howling out of the woods ; the robbers 
 fled in dismay, all but the ruffian who had seized 
 on the fair Urad, who was striving in vain to fix 
 her on his horse. A lion furiously made at him, 
 and tore him limb from limb, while Urad expected 
 the same fate from several others, who came roar- 
 ing around. — 
 
 * But,' said she, 'better is death than infamy; 
 arid the paw of the hungry lion, than the rude 
 hands of the lustful robber.' 
 
 The noble beast, having devoured his prey, came 
 fawning at the feet of Urad, who was surprised at 
 his behaviour and gentleness : but much more was 
 her astonishment increased when she heard him 
 speak. 
 
 ' O virgin, (for none other can experience the as- 
 sistance of our race, or stand unhurt before us,) I 
 am the kins and sovereign of these mighty forests, 
 and am sent by the Genius Houadir to thy protec- 
 tion : but why did the distrustful Urad despair, or 
 why did she accuse Providence of deserting her? 
 should not the relieved wait with patience on the 
 hand that supports him, and not cry out with im- 
 patience, and charge its benefactor with neglect ?' 
 
 * True, O royal lion,' answered the fair Urad ; 
 
 * but fear is irresistible, and the children of men 
 are but weakness and ingratitude : but blessed be 
 Alia, who, though justly provoked at my discontent, 
 yet sent to my assistance the guardian of the fair : 
 yet how cometh it to pass, O royal protector, that 
 you, who are so bold and so fierce in your nature, 
 should yet behave with such tenderness and kind- 
 ness to a helpless virgin, whom you might, with 
 pleasure to yourself, in a moment devour V
 
 URAD ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. Jo9 
 
 ' The truly great and noble spirit,' answered the 
 lion, ' takes a pride in protecting innocence,neither 
 can hewisli to oppress it. Hence learn, fair virgin, 
 that, of all mankind, he only is noble, generous, and 
 truly virtuous, who can withhold his desires from 
 oppressing or ruining the virgin that is in his power. 
 \Vhat then must you think of these mean wretches, 
 who endeavi ur to undermine your virtues and pious 
 dispositions, who cajole you under the appearance of 
 affection, and yet tell you, if they succeed not, that 
 it was only to try you? He that is suspicious, is 
 mean ; he that is mean, is unworthy of the chaste 
 affections of the virtuous maid, \yherefore, O Urad, 
 6hunhim,howeverhonoured by mankind, or covered 
 by the specious characters of virtue, whoever at- 
 temj)ts the honour of your chastity, for he cannot be 
 just ; to deceive you, he must himself swear falsely, 
 and therefore cannot be good ; or if he tell the truth, 
 he must be weak and ungenerous, and unworthy of 
 you, as he invites you to sin.' 
 
 In such conversation they passed along the forest, 
 till, after a few days, they were alarmed at the noise 
 of the hunters, and the music of the chase. 
 
 '^Masl'said the beautiful Urad, ' what is this 
 that I hear? 
 
 ' It is,' answered the royal beast, * the noise of 
 the hunters; and thou shalt escape, butme will they 
 in spoit destroy. The lion you call cruel, who kills 
 to devour, ■^^■hat then is he who wantons in the 
 deaths of those who advantage him not ? But man 
 is lord of all ; let him look to it how he governs !' 
 
 * Nay, but,' answered Urad, 'leave me, gentle 
 protector, and provide for your safety ; nor fear 
 but Houadir will prevent the storms that hover 
 over, from breaking upon me.' 
 
 ' No,' answered the royal beast, ' she has com- 
 manded me to follow you till I sec her presence •
 
 160 URADJ OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 
 
 and where can I better sacrifice my life, than in tne 
 service of chastity and virtue V 
 
 The hunters were now in sight, but advanced not 
 toward the lion ; they turned their coursers aside, 
 and only one, of superior mien, with several at- 
 tendants, rode toward Urad. 
 
 The lion erecting his mane, his eyes glowing with 
 vivid lightnings, drew up the wide sinews of his 
 broad back, and with wrathful front leaped towards 
 him who seemed to have the command. 
 
 The horseman perceiving his intention, poised 
 his spear in his right hand, and spurred his courser 
 to meet him. 
 
 Ere the royal beast had reached the horseman, 
 the rider threw his spear, which, entering between 
 the fore-paws of the lion, nailed him to the ground. 
 The enraged animal tore his paw from the ground ; 
 but the spear still remained in his foot, and the an- 
 guish of the wound made him shake tlie forest with 
 his lordly roarings. 
 
 The stranger then rode up to the fair Urad, 
 whom viewing, he cried out :— ' By Alia, thou art 
 worthy of the embraces of the vizier Mussapulta ; 
 take her, my eunuchs, behind you, and bear her 
 through the forest of Bagdat, to the seraglio of my 
 ancestors.' The eunuchs obeyed, and bore her 
 away, though Urad dropped her corn upon the 
 ground ; but still she trusted in the help of Hou- 
 adir. 
 
 The vizier Mussapulta then ordered that one of 
 his slaves should stay behind, and destroy and bury 
 the lion ; which he commanded to be done with the 
 utmost caution, as Almurah had made a decree, 
 chat if any subject should wound, maim, or destroy 
 any lion in his forest, the same should be put to 
 death. 
 
 The eunuchs bore away Urad to the seraj;lio,
 
 URAD; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 161 
 
 taking her through by-ways to the palace of the 
 Vizier, lest lier shrieks should be heard. Mussa- 
 pulta followed at a distance ; and the slave was left 
 Avitb the tortured and faithful lion. 
 
 In a few hours they reached the palace, and 
 Urad, being conducted to the seraglio, was ordered 
 to be dressed, as the Vizier intended visiting her 
 that night. 
 
 Urad was thunderstruck at the news ; and now be- 
 gan to fear Houadir had forgotten her ; and resolved, 
 as soon as the eunuchs had left her, to drop a se- 
 cond pepper-corn. — But poor Urad had forgotten to 
 take her bag from her old garments, which the 
 eunuch who dressed her had carried away. She 
 dissolved in fresh tears at this piece of carelessness. 
 — ' Well,' said she, ' surely Houadir will neglect 
 me, if I so easily neglect myself.' She waited that 
 night with fear and trembling ; but no Vizier ap- 
 peared. 
 
 This eased her greatly; and the next day, when 
 the eunuchs came, they informed her, that Mus- 
 sapulta had that evening been sent by the Sultan 
 to quell an insurrection, and that they did not ex- 
 pect him home under twenty days. 
 
 During this time no pains were spared with Urad, 
 to teach her the accomplishments of the country ; 
 all which, in spite of her imwillingness to learn in 
 such a detestable place, she nevertheless acquired 
 with the utmost ease and facility. 
 
 The insurrection being quelled, the Vizier re- 
 turned, and, not unmindful of his fair captive, or- 
 dered that she might be prepared for his reception 
 in the evening. 
 
 Accordingly, Urad was sumptuously adorned with 
 jewels and brocades, and looked more beautifully 
 than the fairest Circassian : and the dignity of her 
 virtue added such a grace to her charms, that even 
 
 M
 
 162 trad; or, the fair wanderer, 
 
 her keepers, the eunuchs, dared not look upon her. 
 — Mussapulta, in the evening, came to the seraglio, 
 where he found his beautiful captive in tears. 
 
 ' What,' said he, ' cannot a fortnight's pleasure in 
 this palace efface the remembrance of your sorrows? 
 but be gay and cheerful ; for know, that the vizier 
 Mussapulta esteems you even beyond his wives.' 
 
 ' The esteem of a robber, the esteem of a lawless 
 ranger,' answered Urad, ' charms not the ears of 
 virtue. Heaven, I trust, will not suffer you to plun- 
 der my body : but no power can make me look 
 with pleasure on the murderer of my friend, or on 
 the lustful wretch.' 
 
 ' What,' said Mussapulta, sternly, ' do you re- 
 fuse my proffered love ? Tiaen will I, having first 
 deflowered thee, cast thee forth among my slaves, 
 and them shalt thou lie down before ; thy body I 
 have, and I will make such full use of it, as shall 
 sting thy squeamish virtue to the soul : I will also 
 have witnesses of my triumph ; my whole seraglio 
 shall be present, and my female slaves shall be or- 
 dered to laugh at thy cries, as thou liest on the bed 
 of my desires ; and I too will enjoy tliy screams, 
 and take a pride in the sorrows and throbs of thy 
 departing chastity ; nor shalt thou rise till many 
 have followed the example of their master. — Here, 
 eunuchs,' continued he, ' bind that stubborn piece 
 of virtue, and stretch her on the bed ; call all my 
 females here, and bid my slaves attend. Take off 
 those trappings from her, and let us see the whole 
 of her virtuous composition.' 
 
 The eunuchs advanced to Urad, and began their 
 master's commands; while she, with the most fear- 
 ful outcries, pierced the air, calling on Alia, on 
 Mahomet, and on Houadir, to relieve her. 
 
 The females arriving, Mussapulta gave them 
 their lesson; who, going to the beauteous victim,
 
 URAD; OR, THE FAIR ^'ANDERER. 163 
 
 began laughing at her sorrow, and talking to her in 
 the most indecent terms. The slaves also attended, 
 and beheld the lovely Urad, now almost exposed in 
 all her uncovered charms to the eyes of the brutal 
 company. 
 
 ' Why,' said the proud Vizier, ' do ye delay my 
 wishes'? Haste, slaves, and lay bare this delicate 
 piece of virtue to public view.' 
 
 As he said this, an eunuch came running in 
 haste, crying, ' The Sultan, the Sultan Almurab, 
 approaches ! ' 
 
 All was instant confusion ; Mussapulta turned, 
 pale and trembled j he ordered the eunuchs to re- 
 lease and cover the fair Urad ; and ere she was 
 well adorned again, the faithful lion entered with 
 the Sultan Almurah. 
 
 The lion instantly fell on the vizier Mussapulta 
 and tore him limb from limb, in the sight of those 
 very servants whom he called together to behold his 
 cruelty and lust. Yet the generous animal would 
 not defile himself with the carcass ; but with great 
 wrath tossed the bloody remains among the females 
 of the seraglio. 
 
 Almurah commanded Urad to advance ; and at 
 the sight of ler, ' royal beast,' said he to the 
 lion, ' I wonder not that thou wert unable to de- 
 scribe the beauties of this lovely maid, since they 
 are almost too dazzling to behold. — virtuous 
 maid,' continued Almurah, ' whose excellencies I 
 have heard from this faithful animal : if thou canst 
 deign toaccept of the heart of Almurah, thy Sultan 
 will be the happiest of mankind : but I swear, by 
 my unalterable will, that no power on earth shall 
 force or distress you.' 
 
 ' O,' sighed Urad, ' royal Sultan, you honour 
 your poor slave too much ; yet happy should I be 
 were Hotiarlir liere !'
 
 164 URA.D ; OR, THE FAIR WANDERER. 
 
 As she spoke, the Genius Houaclh* entered the 
 room : the face of the sage instructress still remain- 
 ed, but a glowing splendour surrounded her, and her 
 walk was majestic and commanding. Almurah 
 bowed to the ground, Urad made obeisance, and 
 the rest fell prostrate before her. 
 
 ' ]\Iy advice/ said Houadir, ' is necessary now, 
 O Urad ; nor ought young virgins to enter into 
 such engagements without counsel, and the appro- 
 bation of those above them, how splendid and 
 lucrative soever the union may appear. I, who 
 know the heart of Almurah, the servant of Ma- 
 homet, know him to be virtuous ; some excesses he 
 has been guilty of, but they were chieflj' owing to 
 his villanous vizier, ]Mu=:sapulta.' (Here the lion 
 gave a dreadful roar.) ' Against your command, 
 Almurah, did he wound this animal, which I en- 
 dued with speech for the service of Urad, to teach 
 her that strength and nobleness ofsoul would always 
 support the innocent. 
 
 ' Mussapulta having wounded him, commanded 
 his slave to put the royal beast to death : but I 
 gave the slave bowels of mercy ; and he carried 
 him home to his cottage, till the wound was healed, 
 when the lion, faithful to his trust, came toward 
 you as you were hunting, and being endued with 
 speech, declared the iniquity of Mussapulta : — but 
 he is no more. 
 
 * Now, Urad, if thy mind incline to Almurah, 
 receive his vows : but give not thine hand where 
 thy heart is estranged ; for no splendour can com- 
 pensate the want of aflPection.' 
 
 ' If Almurah, my gracious lord,' answered Urad, 
 * will swear in three things to do my desire, his 
 handmaid will be happy to serve him.' 
 
 ' I swear,' answered the fond Almurah, ^ liadst 
 thou three thousand desires, Almurah would satisfy 
 them or die.'
 
 urad; or, the fair v/anderer, 165 
 
 ' What strange things/ said Houadii% ' has Urad 
 to ask of the Sultan Almurah V 
 
 ' Whatever they are, gracious Genius,' said Al- 
 murah, ' Urad, thelovely Urad, may command me.' 
 
 ' Then,' said Urad, ' first I require that the poor 
 inhabitants of the forest be restored to theii' native 
 lands whence thou hast driven them.' 
 
 ' By the great Alia, and Mahomet the prophet of 
 the just,' answered Almurah, ' the deed was pro- 
 posed and executed by the villain IMussapulta ! 
 Yes, my lovely Urad shall he obeyed. But now, 
 Urad,' continued the Sultan, ' ere you proceed in 
 your request, let me make one sacrifice to chastity 
 and justice, by vowing, in the presence of the good 
 Genius Houadir, to dismiss my seraglio, and take 
 thee only to my arms.' 
 
 ' So noble a sacrifice,' answered Urad, ' demands 
 my utmost returns • wherefore, beneficent Sultan, 
 I release thee from any farther compliance with my 
 requests.' 
 
 ' Lovely Urad,' said Almurah, ' permit me then 
 to dive into your thoughts : yes, by your kind 
 glances on that noble beast, I perceive you me- 
 ditated to ask some bounty for your deliverer. He 
 shall, fair virgin, be honoured as Urad's guardian, 
 and the friend of Almurah ; he shall live in my 
 royal palace, with slaves to attend him ; and, that 
 his rest may not be inglorious, or his life useless, 
 once every year shall those who have ravished or 
 deflowered the innocent, be delivered up to his 
 honest rage.' 
 
 The lovely Urad fell at the feet of the Sultan, 
 and blessed him fur his favours ; and the sage 
 Houadir approved of Urad's request, and the pro- 
 mises of Almurah. The lion came and licked the 
 feet of his benefactors ; and the royal Houadir, at 
 parting, poured her blessings on the royal pair.
 
 16G THE enchanters; or, 
 
 ' To guard the soft female heart from the delu- 
 sions of a faithless sex/ said Iracagem, ' is worthy 
 of our race; and the sage Houadir has wisely- 
 blended chastity and prudence in her delightful 
 instructions : batfemale delicacy makes an unequal 
 opposition to brutal cunning, unless the protection 
 of the Just One overshadow the footsteps of the 
 virtuous maid : wherefore Alia is the first and 
 chief supporter of the female sex, who will as- 
 suredly, when requested, confound the vain artifices 
 of man, and exalt the prudent counsels of the mo- 
 dest fair. 
 
 ' But, most illustrious,' said the sage Iracagem 
 to one of the Genii of a superior mien, 'let me 
 not any longer delay the noble lessons of thy 
 tongue ; from thee we expect to hear the an- 
 ventures of Misnar, the beloved of Alia and Ma- 
 homet his prophet.' 
 
 •Chief of our race,' answered the Genius, 'whose 
 praises ri?e earliest and most frequent in the pre- 
 sence of Alia, I am ready to obey thee.' 
 
 So saying, the Genius thus begun her much- 
 instructive tale. 
 
 TALE VI. 
 
 The Enchanters ; or, Misnar, the Sultan of 
 India. 
 
 At the death of the mighty Dabulcombar, the 
 lord of the East, Misnar, the first-born of the 
 Sultan, ascended the throne of India : but though 
 the hand of time had scai-cely spread the fruits of 
 manhood on his cheeks, yet neither the splendour 
 of his court, nor the flatteries of the East, could 
 steal from the youthful Sultan the knowledge of 
 himself.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 167 
 
 His first royal command was, to assemble to- 
 gether the wise men throughout his extensive 
 dominions, from Cabul and Attok, whicli are the 
 evening boundaries of the Sun, to Kehoa, and 
 Thoanoa, the heads of whose mosques are tipt with 
 his earliest beams. 
 
 Then came the Faquir Ciumpso, from Bansac ; 
 and Bahilu,the hermit of the faithful, from Queda ; 
 the sage Bouta hastened from Bisnagar ; and Can- 
 dusa, the Iman of Labor, was not inobedientto the 
 royal decree. Sallasalsor also, from JVechal, was 
 there ; and Carnakan, a faithful worshipper, from 
 the banks of Ava ; the prophet Mangelo, from the 
 hollow rocks of Caxol; and Garab, a silver-bearded 
 sage, from the mountains Coharsi: from Azo came 
 a wise interpreter of dreams : and from Narvan, the 
 star-read philosopher Nezraraked. Zeuramaund, 
 the father of the prophets of Naugracut, led his 
 visionary tribe from their native mountains, and 
 the widest of their community were deputed to re- 
 present the bramins of Lactora. 
 
 The Sultan Misnar ordered the illustrious as- 
 sembly to meet in his divan ; where, being placed 
 on the throne of his forefathers, he thus opened 
 unto them the desires of his heart: — 
 
 ' ye sources of light, and fountains of know- 
 ledge,' said Misnar, ' mere precious are your coun- 
 sels to me than the mines of Raalconda, or the big 
 emerald from Gani : wisdom is the true support to 
 honour, and the Sultan is established by the coun- 
 sel of his sages. Say then, ye treasures of ex- 
 perience, what shall Misnar devise that may secure 
 him in the throne of the mighty Dabulcombar.?' 
 
 The sages in the divan were struck with astonish- 
 ment at the condescension of their young Sultar;, 
 and one and all fell prostrate before his throne. 
 ' May wisdom,' said they, ' guide the footsteps
 
 168 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 of the illustrious JNIisnar : may the mind of our 
 Sultan be as the eye of day !' 
 
 Then arose the prophet Zeuramaund, and said : 
 
 * I perceive, O mighty Sultan, the dark clouds of 
 evil are gathering to disturb the hours of futurity 5 
 the spirits of the wicked are preparing the storm 
 
 and the tempest against thee : but the volumes 
 
 of fate are torn from my sight, and the end of thy 
 troubles is unknown !' 
 
 The venerable sages looked aghast as Zeuramaund 
 uttered these ominous predictions in the spirit cf 
 prophecy: for they perceived he spake as he was 
 moved ; the whole council were dismayed at his 
 ■words, and all fell again prostrate on the earth. 
 
 ;Mi>nar alone seemed unconcerned at his fate. 
 
 ' Omy friends,' said the youthful Sultan, ' the 
 rose cannot blossom without the thorn, nor life be 
 unchequered by the frowns of fate ; the clouds of 
 the air must lower, before the rice springs forth j 
 and the mother feels the pangs of child-birth, ere she 
 knows the pleasures of a parent. Grieve not, my 
 friends, that trials attend me, since the spirit of 
 prudence and virtue blossoms fairest in a rugged 
 soil.' 
 
 The sages arose as their royal master spake, and 
 beheld with wonder the youthful countenance of 
 their prudent Sultan. 
 
 Silence and amazement for a time prevailed, till 
 one of the sages advancing before the rest, thus 
 counselled the intrepid prince : 
 
 ' O light of the earth,' said the trembling sage, 
 ' whose virtue and innocence have not been vexed 
 by frauds and deceit ; whose pure mind seeth not 
 the foul devices of man's heart; trust not to the 
 fickle interpositions of chance, where thine own arm 
 can work security ; and establish a permanent 
 foundation to thy father's throne. Thou hast a
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 169 
 
 brother, O my Sultan, whose veins are filled witii 
 royal blood, and whose heart is by descent above 
 control. Ahubal, therefore, ere the blood of his 
 youth unfolds in the fulness of manhood, should be 
 cut off, as the husbandman destroyeth the deadly 
 lacar in the field.' 
 
 ' What,' said the young Sultan Misnar, ' what do 
 thy base suspicious fears advise ! Is there no way 
 to build up the seat of justice and mercy but in 
 murder and fratricide? Caution, when besmeared in 
 blood, is no longer virtue, or wisdom, but wretched 
 and degenerate cowardice : no, never let him that 
 was born to execute judgment, secure his honours 
 by cruelty and oppression ! the righteous Alia plant- 
 ed menothere, to spread a poisonous shade over the 
 offspring of his prophet Mahomet ; though fear 
 and submission be a subject's tribute, yet is mercy 
 the attribute of Alia, and the most pleasing endow- 
 ment of the vicegerents of earth. But as thou, 
 weak man, hast dared to advise the extirpation of 
 one of the race of the mighty Dabulcombar, the 
 vengeance of my injured brother's blood fasten 
 upon thy life !' 
 
 The guards of the divan, hearing the sentence of 
 the Sultan, approached with their drawn sabres to- 
 wards the decrepit sage, but Misnar arising, cried 
 out : — 
 
 ' Who of ray subjects shall dare to violate with 
 blood the sanctity of this refuge for the oppressed? 
 Let the divan of justice be sacred : nevertheless, 
 lead that author of malice from my sight, and let 
 his own blood make satisfaction for the cruelty of 
 his desires.' 
 
 As he spake thus, the guards attempted to seize 
 
 the sage : but as they advanced towards him, 
 
 flames of fire burst from his mouth, and his whole 
 form appeared as the form of a fiery dragon. .
 
 170 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 The rest of the sages fled from the dreadful 
 monster; but Misnar, with an intrepid countenance 
 stood before his throne, with his drawn sabre 
 pointing towards the dragon ; when, through the 
 flames, he perceived a hoary magician, on the 
 back of the monster. 
 
 ' Vain, O silly child of Mahomet,' said the en- 
 chanter, ' was thy sabre against the power of my 
 art, did not a superior force uphold thee : — but 
 tremble at thy doom ; twice four of my race are 
 determined against thee, and the throne of Dabul- 
 combar noddeth over thy head ; fear hath now pre- 
 served thee, and the weakness of thy heart, which 
 the credulous believers of Mahomet will call pru- 
 dence and moderation : but the fiend of darkness 
 is let loose, and the powers of enchantment shall 
 prevail !' 
 
 As the hoary magician spake thus, his fiery dra- 
 gon, with tremendous hissings, arose, and, cleaving 
 the dome of the divan, disappeared from their 
 sight. 
 
 * Thus,' said the illustrious Misnar. * let the 
 enemies of Mahomet be dismayed ! But inform me, 
 O ye sages, under the semblance of which of your 
 brethren did that foul enchanter gain admittance 
 here ?' 
 
 ' May the lord of my heart,' answered Bahllu, 
 the hermit of the faithful from Queda, * triumph 
 over all his foes ! As 1 travelled on the mountains 
 from Queda, and saw neither the footsteps of beasts 
 nor the flights of birds, behold, I chanced to pass 
 through a cavern, in wliose hollow sides I found 
 this accursed sage, to whom I unfolded the invita- 
 tion of the Sultan of India ; and we joining, jour- 
 neyed toward the divan ; but ere we entered, he 
 said unto me, ' Put thy hand forth, and pull me 
 toward thee into the divan, calling on the name of
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 171 
 
 Mahomet ; for the evil spirits are on me, and vex 
 me!" 
 
 After the hermit Bahilu had spoken, Mangelo 
 arose. 
 
 ' May tlifi power of the Sultan of the East be 
 multiplietl !' said he; 'but knov?-, O Sultan, that 
 neither evil Genius, nor enchanter, can enter this 
 seat of justice, unless he be invited in the name of 
 Mahomet.' 
 
 ' If it be so,' answered the Sultan Misnar, ' then 
 neither can they be masked ao:ainst the voice of 
 justice : for thou, O righteous Alia, wilt uphold the 
 tribunal which thou hast founded upon earth, and 
 make the visions of fraud to depart from him who 
 seeketh truth. Tlierefore,' continued the Sultan, 
 ' lest this assembly be still tainted with malice and 
 infidelity, as the poisonous herb groweth most 
 luxuriantly beside the plants of health, I command 
 the evil spirits to stand confessed before me.' 
 
 At his word, sulphureous smokes arose, and from 
 the thronged assembly seven hideous forms broke 
 forth. 
 
 First, on a vulture's pinions, the fell enchanter 
 Tasnar soared aloft, whose skin was as the parched 
 Indian's when he writhes impaled upon the bloody 
 stake. 
 
 Next, on the back of an enormous scorpion, 
 whose tail dropped deadly poison, Ahaback ap- 
 peared, and with his eyes darted malignant flashes 
 on the youthful Sultan. 
 
 Him followed Happuck, a subtle magician, on 
 the shoulders of a tiger, whose name was shagged 
 with snakes, and whose tail was covered with twi- 
 ning adders. 
 
 Hupacusan also, that decrepit hag, who person- 
 ated the righteous Sallasalsor, from JNechal, now 
 stripped of the garments of hypocrisy, filled the
 
 172 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 eyes of the sages with terror and amazement. Her 
 lean bones, wrapped round with yellow skin, ap- 
 peared like the superstitious mummies of the west- 
 ern Egypt. She was mounted on a monster more 
 dreadful and uncouth than the fever-parched 
 wretch beholds, when, in restless shimbers, he sinks 
 from woe to woe upon his bed of sickness. Its 
 form was like the deadly spider, but in bulk like 
 the elephant of the woods; hairs like cobwebs 
 covered its long bony legs, and from behind, a bag 
 of venom, of a whitish hue, spurted forth its malig- 
 nant influence. 
 
 She was followed by her malicious sister Ulin, 
 squatting on the back of a broad-bellied toad, whose 
 mouth opened like the pestilence that swalloweth 
 up the fainting inhabitants of Delhi. 
 
 Then, with a loud hiss, started forth, in many a 
 fold, a black serpent, in length and bulk like the ce- 
 dars of the forest, bearing the powerful enchantress 
 Desra, whose wide-extended ears covered a head 
 of iniquity, and whose long shrivelled dugs weakly 
 panted over a heart of adamant. 
 
 Last, with majestic horrors, the giant Kifri swell- 
 ed into his full proportion, and, like a tottering 
 mountain, reared himself aloft ; the long immea- 
 surable alligator that bore him, groaned with his 
 load, and, opening all his mouths (for every scale 
 appeared a mouth,) vomited forth streams of gru- 
 mous blood. In his hand the giant brandished a 
 stately pine, blasted with lightning ; which shaking 
 at the dauntless Misnar : — 
 
 ' Tremble, vile reptile,' said he, in a thimdering 
 voice ; ' tremble, vile reptile, at a giant's wrath ! 
 tremble at the magic powers of all my brethren ; if 
 such a name becomes our race, unbound, unfetter- 
 ed by the ties of nature : tremble, vile reptile, for 
 thv doom is fixed !'
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 173 
 
 At these words, the infernal brood joined their 
 voices with Kifri's, and all at once pronounced in 
 harsh discordant sounds, ' Tremble, vile reptile, 
 for thy doom is fixed !' 
 
 The enchanters were then involved in a thick 
 cloud of smoke, from which issued broad flashes of 
 red lightning, which, ascending to the roof of the 
 divan, in a moment disappeared. 
 
 ' There is neither wisdom nor prudence,' said 
 Misnar, as he prostrated himself on the ground, 
 after the enchantments were at an end, ' but what 
 are derived from Alia, and are the gift of the Pro- 
 phet of the faithful. If thon dost vouchsafe to 
 direct my steps, O Protector of Mussulmen, the 
 fear of evil shall not come upon me.' 
 
 * Happy,' said Candusa, the iman of Labor, with 
 his breast on the earth, ' happy is the prince whose 
 trust is in Alia, and whose wisdom cometh from 
 the thirteenth heaven.' 
 
 ' Happy,' said all the sages, humbling themselves 
 before the Sultan Misnar, ' happy is our Sultan, 
 the favourite of Alia !' 
 
 ' That,' replied Misnar, ' O sages, is too much 
 even for the Sultan of the East to hear. — But, may 
 the all-righteous Alia approve of my thoughts 
 and actions ! so shall the infernal powers destroy 
 the wretches that employs them, and the dark poi- 
 soned arrow recoil upon him that blew it forth. 
 But, O sages, though your numbers are reduced, 
 your integrity is more tried and approved : there- 
 fore let Misnar, your Sultan, partake of he sweet- 
 ness of your counsels, and learn from aged expe-' 
 rience the wisdom of the sons of earth. Say, then, 
 what doth the peace and security of my throne re- 
 quire from me concerning my brother Ahubal, the 
 ii^sue of the mighty Dabulcombar?' 
 
 ' Far be it from mc,' said the sage Carnakin,
 
 174 THE enchanters; or, \ 
 
 'to presume to utter my words as oracles bef\ j*^ 
 the prince : but may not the security of the E^ \ 
 require, that the prince, thy brother, be not er: 
 larged, as my Sultan is, to do whatsoever seemeti 
 good in his heart ? Should not the younger be a; =" 
 servant to the first-born of his father, and are nol 
 all the princes the vassals of the Sultans of the 
 East 1 Let, therefore, the prince Ahubal enjoy 
 the pleasures of Rfe ; hnt let him be removed from 
 giving pain and uneasiness to my royal Sultan Mis 
 nar. At the sources of the springs of Ava, on the 
 craggy rocks of Abonlfaken, is a royal castle built 
 by the sage Illfakircki, to which there is no passage 
 but through a narrow vale, which may be evei 
 guarded by the slaves of Misnar. Thither let the! 
 prince be sent; and let him live there, and enjoy 
 life, without having any power to molest the glories 
 of thy reign.' 
 
 The counsel of Carnakan seemed agreeable unto 
 the Sultan and his sages, and Misnar gave imme- 
 diate orders, that the mutes of his seraglio should 
 attend the prince to the royal castle at Aboulfa- 
 ken ; and then dismissing, for the present, the as- 
 sembled sages, he commanded them every week to 
 attend the divan. 
 
 In a few days, the mutes and guards who were 
 sent with the prince Ahubal, being admitted into 
 the presence of their Sultau, fell on their faces and 
 cried out: 
 
 ' O, let not the displeasure of the Sultan fall 
 upon his slaves ! Thy slaves, in obedience to thy 
 royal word, journeyed toward the castle of Aboul- 
 faken, and, as they passed along through the de- 
 serts, a party of five thousand horse appeared, who, 
 setting upon us, ordered us either to deliver up 
 the prince Ahubal, or defend him with our lives. — 
 Thy slaves would willingly have chosen the latter
 
 MISNAK, SULTAN OF INDIA. 175 
 
 ite. Yet, alas ! what were four hundred guards 
 ' ad twenty mutes to the army that opposed us? 
 .ut our consultation was vain ; for, while we de- 
 jated how to defend ourselves, the prince drew his 
 sabre, and, killing three of our number, cut his 
 1 1 way through the guards to his friends. The horse- 
 men then would have set upon us, and hewed us 
 in pieces ; but their chief forbade them, saying, 
 * No, let them live, and be the messengers of the 
 prince's escape. — Go,' continued he, ' dastard slaves, 
 and let your Sultan know, that Ahubal has friends 
 who will shortly punish him for his designs on the 
 prince." 
 
 At these words of his guards Misnar gave a deep 
 sigh, and said : 
 
 * Human prudence alone is far too weak to fight 
 against the wiles of the deceitful ; but Alia is more 
 powerful than man ! 1 will therefore send for the 
 prophets, and inquire of them, where I may seek 
 for the assistance of Mahomet.' 
 
 The Sultan then commanded Zeuramaund and 
 his tribe, and Mangelo the prophet, from the hol- 
 low rocks of Caxol, to be brought before him : and 
 when they were come into his presence, he de- 
 manded of them, where he might seek for the as- 
 sistance of Mahomet, and the countenance of Alia. 
 
 Then Zeuramaund answered the Sultan in these 
 words : * In the tomb of the Prophet of Mecca 
 is the signet of Mahomet, which no human power 
 may remove : but if the Prophet will hear the 
 prayer of the Sultan, it may easily be taken 
 thence.' 
 
 ' Yes,' replied Mangelo, the prophet from the 
 hollow rocks of Caxol, * the seal of Mahomet will 
 indeed preservethe prince from enchantment: but 
 it is also necessary that he put on the girdle of 
 Opakka, which is worn by the giant Kifri, the
 
 170 THE ENCHANTERS; OR, 
 
 sworn enemy of the eastern throne. For, although 
 the signet of Mahomet will preserve the Sultan 
 from evil, yet will the girdle of Opakka only save 
 him from deceit.' 
 
 The Sultan ]Misnar was moved at the discourse 
 of his prophets, and spent the night in thought and ' 
 perplexity. He had little hope that the signet of 
 Mahomet, which had for ages remained immoveable, 
 should yield to liim ; or that, with ail his nume- 
 rous armies, he should be able to force the girdle of 
 Opakka from the loins of an enchanter, who could 
 in a moment overwhelm his troops by the powerof 
 his art. However, he determined the next morn- 
 ing to go with his court a public pilgrimage to 
 ]\lGcca, and to offer up the most solemn petitions 
 to t'ne Prophet of his faith. 
 
 Early in the morning, the Sultan rose from his 
 seraglio, and commanded his courtiers to prepare 
 the procession, as he intended immediately to make 
 a public pilgrimage to Mecca. 
 
 But as Misnar was making known his intentions, 
 a messenger arrived in haste at the entrance of 
 the seraglio, m^io brought advice, that one of the 
 southern kingdoms had revolted, and was led on 
 by a sage heroine, who declared her intentions of 
 placing Ahubal, the brother of the Sultan, on the 
 throne of India. 
 
 Misnar was conscious that this revolt was brought 
 about through thecontri\ances of the enchanters : 
 and therefore despaired of conquering them by 
 meansofhis armies : but,lesttheother kingdoms, 
 seeing no troops were sent to repel the rebels, 
 should also join the adverse party, the Sultan com- 
 manded the rough music of wcir to sound ; and 
 sending for his grand vizier Horam in private, he 
 ordered him to lead out the armies of Delhi against 
 the rebels, and to despatcii daily messengers to the 
 capital, to bring advice of his success.
 
 MISNAK, SULTAN OF INDIA. 177 
 
 The vizier Horam received the Sultan's com- 
 mission with reverence, and said : — ' Let not my 
 Sultan be angry at his slave. If my lord should 
 require ten thousand messengers, his slave Horam 
 vould despatch them. But if my lord will accept 
 of this tablet, he shall know in a moment the suc- 
 cess of his servant, though numberless leagues 
 were between us.' 
 
 ' What,' said Misnar, taking the tablet from his 
 vizier, 'by what means is this tablet endued with 
 these rare virtues ?' 
 
 ' My lord,' answered Horam, ' when my father, 
 through the malice of his enemies, was banished 
 from the presence of the mighty Dabulcombar 
 (whom the Houris of Paradise do serve), he called 
 me to him, and said, ' O Horam, the evil-minded 
 have prevailed, and thy father hath fallen a sacrifice 
 to the enemies of truth ! No more, my son, shall 
 I behold the children of my strength, nor the 
 splendour of my Sultan's court: whither I go, 
 1 know not ! But do you, my son, take this tablet ; 
 and whatever befals thy parent shall at times 
 be made known to you in the leaves of this book, 
 and to whomsoever thou givest it, that friend 
 shall, after my death, read therein whatever 
 Horam my son shall wish to make known unto 
 him.' ' 
 
 * Faithful Horam,' answered the Sultan, ' thy 
 present is of such exquisite value, that thy prince 
 shall, in confidence, honour thee with the first 
 place in his esteem. — Know then, my faithful 
 Vizier, that the powers of enchantment are let 
 loose against my throne, and the prophets have said, 
 * Thou shalt not prevail but with the signet of 
 Mahomet, and the girdle of Opakka :' therefore it 
 is expedient that I first go to Mecca to obtain this 
 valuable gift of the Prophet : my purpose,^but this
 
 178 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 morning, was to go surrounded by the nobles of my 
 court; but while rebellion stalkethabroad, pageants 
 are idle, and the parade of a Sultan's pilgrimage 
 will give my enemies time to increase in their num- 
 bers and strength. IVo, Horam ; I myself will, in 
 secret, approach the tomb of my Prophet, for Alia 
 requireth the service of the heart, and searcheth 
 out the purity of his servants' intentions ; I shall go 
 with greater humility as a peasant than as a prince. 
 In the mean time, my royal tent shall be pitched, 
 and Horam only shall be suffered to approach it. 
 So shall my slaves imagine their Sultau goeth forth 
 with them to the field, and the hearts of my sub- 
 jects shall be streugtiieued.' 
 
 ' Be the desires of the Sultan ful611ed,' said Ho- 
 ram, with reverence : ' but will not my lord take 
 with him a guard in his pilgrimage? for the dangers 
 of the journey are great over the mountains and 
 deserts, and the voyage by the seas is perilous.' 
 
 ' No,' answered the Sultan ; * those who are my 
 slaves here, may, at a distance, become my mas- 
 ters, and sell me to my foes : where the trust is 
 great, great is the danger also. Shall I set guards 
 over my person, in the heart of my kingdom, 
 amidst my faithful subjects, and trust my life in 
 a slave's hand, where I am neither known nor re- 
 spectt d ? When the diamond lieth concealed in 
 the mine, it is free and unmolested ; but when it 
 shineth abroad on the earth, all covet its pos- 
 session.' 
 
 The Vizier Horam was struck with the prudence 
 of his youthful Sultan, and bowed in assent to the 
 words of his lord. 
 
 In a few days the armies of India assembled ; 
 the royal tent was pitched, and the Vizier was de- 
 clared the leader of his Sultan's forces. INJisnar 
 entered his tent in great state, and Horam alouc
 
 MISXAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 179 
 
 followed the Sultan into the retirements of the 
 moveable pavilion. 
 
 The "Vizier had, according to the Sultan's instruc- 
 tions, prepared a disguise for his master ; and at 
 midnight led him, like a peasant, through the en- 
 campment into a wood ; where, falling at his feet, 
 he besought him to consider well the dangers he 
 was about to encounter. 
 
 ' Horam,' answered the Sultan, ' I well know the 
 goodness of thy heart, and that thy fears are the 
 daughters of thy love. Sensiblearal that the dan- 
 gers of my pilgrimage are great : but what resource 
 have I left ? More than man is risen up against me, 
 and more than men must assist me, or I perish. 
 To whom then can I fly, but to the prophet of the 
 faithful ? For I am well assured that no enchant- 
 ment shall prevail against me while 1 journey to- 
 ward Mecca : for such is the faith of all true be- 
 lievers ; though they may oppress and fatigue me, 
 yet in the end shall I triumph. Besides, Horam, 
 there is no resource.* 
 
 ' True, my Sultan,' answered the Vizier, ^ with- 
 out Alia, vain is the counsel of man ; but is not 
 Alia everywhere present to aid and defend the 
 sonsof the faithful.' 
 
 ' Though Alia be all-powerful,' answered Misnar, 
 * yet is not the slave of his hand to direct the Lord 
 of all things. If we would gain the help and assist- 
 ance of Alia, we must obey his commands ; and 
 well are we assured by the law of our Prophet, that 
 at Mecca shall the prayer of the faithful he heard. 
 Wherefore, O Horam, no longer my slave, but my 
 friend, lead forth my armies with confidence and 
 trust, and doubt not but that He, who daily re- 
 fresheth the sun with light, will shortly restore 
 Misnar to the throne of his forefathers.' 
 
 As he spake thus, the Sultan broke from his vi-
 
 180 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 zier Horam, who was fallen at his master's feet, 
 weeping at his fixed resolves ; and penetrated into 
 the gloomy recesses of the forest. 
 
 All was silence and darkness, save where, through 
 broken fragments of fleeting clouds, the sultaness 
 cf night sometimes threw a feeble light on the 
 horrors of the forest. 
 
 ' This gloomy recess,' said Misnar, as he passed 
 on,' which hidesme from the world, makesmebet- 
 ter known to myself. In the court of my forefathers 
 I am called the Light of the World, the Glory of 
 the East, and the Eye of Day ; but, in the wild 
 forests of Tarapajan, I am a poor helpless reptile, 
 on whom the cedars drop unwholesome dews, and 
 whose steps are hidden from the light of the moon 
 by the branches of the palm. "What then is the 
 pride of man, but deceit ! and the glories of the 
 earth but the shadows of illusion ! surely more had 
 I to fearfromenchantmentonthethroneof Dabul- 
 combar, than in the bosom of this forest. Here, the 
 wild beast will not flatter me, nor will the lordly 
 lion acknowledge me the Sultan of his wild domains. 
 On what prop then must that week tendril, man, 
 entwine himself, on what rock must the son of earth 
 build his security! Thanks be to the faith delivered 
 nntnmefrom Mahomet, the holyprophetof Arabia! 
 In Alia shall be my trust, who ruleth over all the 
 children of his hand, and is lord over the haunts 
 of beasts as well as the dwellings of mankind.' 
 
 With such thoughts, Misnar passed along for 
 many days, till one night at a distance he perceived 
 the skies looked red with light, and various fires; 
 and by the noise, which increased in his ears, found 
 that some Indians were carousing in the woods be- 
 fore him. 
 
 The disguised Sultan enrleavoured to avoid them, 
 sii -king into a path which led round by their fires :
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 181 
 
 but some of the Indians, observing him by thelight 
 of their fires, called to their brother peasants, and 
 desired him to partake of their mirth. 
 
 Misnar thought it would be in vain to refuse the 
 request, as they all seemed disposed to insist on 
 their demands ; and therefore hastened to the 
 scene of their festivity. 
 
 Here he found ten or twelve fires, with a mixed 
 number of males and females, some sitting and some 
 dancing around them; the uncouth rustic music 
 enlivened their dance, and the mask of care was 
 not on their faces. 
 
 Misnar inquired the cause of their mirth. 
 
 ' What !' said an ancient female, ' though you 
 are a stranger in Tarapajan, and know not that the 
 feast of Tigers is celebrated by these nightly fires ; 
 yet must you now learn, that no stranger comes 
 but to partake of our joy, nor depart till the fires 
 are extinct.' 
 
 ' And how long,' said Misnar, ' doth this feast 
 last !' 
 
 ' This,' answered the old woman, * is the third 
 night ; and these fires must blaze yet eleven nights 
 and days more ; during which time, the axe is not 
 seen in the hand of the forester, nor doth the bow 
 twang in the woods of Tarapajan ; neither may he 
 which seeth these rites depart till they be fulHlled.' 
 
 Misnar was thunderstruck at this relation ; and 
 ere he could answer, the crowd gathered around 
 him. 
 
 * Come,' said he that appeared to be the chief, 
 ' let us initiate this stranger in our rites ; bring 
 hither the skin of the tiger, and the paw of the 
 lion, and the lance, and the bow that twangs not 
 in the woods of Tarapajan during these nightly 
 festivals.' 
 
 Then did one bring the skin of a tiger, and
 
 182 THE ENCHAXTERS; OR, 
 
 threw it over tlie shoulders of Misnar : and another 
 came with the paw of a lion, and hung it before 
 him ; and a third brought a lance, and put it in 
 Misnar's right hand ; and a fourth slung a bow 
 on his breast. Then did all the crowd make a 
 loud howling, and danced around the astonished 
 Sultan. 
 
 ' Now,' said the chief, when the dance was 
 finished, ' sound the hollow instruments of brass, 
 which give notice to the moon and to the stars, 
 that this stranger is about to swear not to reveal 
 our rites. Lay thine hand on thine head,' said the 
 chief to the disguised Sultan, ' and put thy fingers 
 on thy mouth, and say, — ' As the starless night is 
 dark, as the cave of death is dark, so shall my 
 thoughts and words continue in darkness concern- 
 ing the festival of tigers.' ' 
 
 ' And wherefore,' said Misnar, ' is this silence 
 imposed ? and what shall befall him that sweareth 
 not unto you ? Is not the mind of man free "? and 
 who shall offend him, who seeketh not to offend 
 others V 
 
 ' Whosoever,' answered the chief, ' travelleth 
 should become obedient to the customs of those 
 people among whom he tarrieth.' 
 
 ' Right,' continued Misnar, ' and I am willing, 
 on two conditions, to fulfil your will : first, you 
 shall all swear, that I be at liberty to pursue my 
 journey on the eleventh day ; and next, that I 
 shall not be bound to perform aught contrary to 
 the law of Mahomet.' 
 
 ' Stranger,' replied the chief, * when we are at 
 liberty to depart, thou shalt depart likewise : but 
 during this festival, which is held in honour of our 
 noble ancestor, who remained fourteen days in this 
 forest, till he had subdued a ravenous race of 
 tigers, no man that is entered here may stir hence
 
 MISNAB, SULTAN" OF INDIA. 183 
 
 till the fires be extinguished ; for by the fire did 
 our ancestor drive away and destroy the tigers and 
 beasts of the forests, and by fire do we commemo- 
 rate his mighty deeds. Neither,' continued the 
 chief, ' may we reveal these rites to any one but 
 those who by accident espy them : for, such as are 
 present with us, we are bound to receive into our 
 society; wherefore we compel those who corae 
 among us to keep in silence tlie knowledge of our 
 rites.' 
 
 ' If such is your custom,' answered Misnar, ' I 
 shall willingly comply ; and swear to you, that, as 
 the starless night is dark, as the cave of death is 
 dark, so shall my words and thoughts continue in 
 darkness concerning the festival of tigers.' 
 
 As he uttered these words, the whole assembly 
 asrain danced around him, till the hollow brazen 
 instruments were ordered to sound, and all the in- 
 habitants of the forest were commanded to receive 
 the disguised Sultan as their brother. 
 
 Then the men one by one passed by Misnar, each 
 as he passed, laying the hand of the Sultan on his 
 breast. After they were passed by, came the 
 females, who embraced their new brother. These, 
 Misnar suffered to pass on without much reflec- 
 tion, till among the youngest, who last approached, 
 he beheld a beauteous virgin, with downcast looks, 
 drawing near him, and who seemed ashamed of 
 that freedom the custom of the place obliged to use. 
 
 At sisrht of this amiable figure, Misnar at once 
 forgot his purpose and his crown, and was im- 
 patient till the ceremony brought her into his arms ; 
 where he would willingly have held her for ever. 
 The rest of the females perceived his emotion ; and 
 the chief of the festival approaching, asked 
 Noradin, the beauteous fair one, ' Whether she 
 would at length fix her choice ? — for in this place,'
 
 l84 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 continued the chief, addressing himself to Misnar, 
 * every sex hath freedom, and none are compelled 
 to take the hand they do not love : Noradin hath 
 for these three days been courted by all our tribe, 
 but the coy maid hath refused every advance ; if 
 she refuse not you, our joy will be the more com- 
 plete, as then, none of our company will be with- 
 out his mate.' 
 
 Misnar, forgetting the great designs of his heart, 
 waited for the fair one's answer, and felt more fear 
 at her silence, than at the dreadful enchantments 
 of his monstrous enemies. At length, with blushes, 
 and half-smothered words, Noradin answered, 
 ' May the joy of my comrades be complete !' 
 
 Misnar, in raptures at the fair Noradin's pre- 
 ference, took her by the hand, and led up the 
 dance, while the hollow instruments of brass a 
 third time sounded, to proclaim the choice of No- 
 radin, the beauteous fair one. 
 
 At the appearance of day, each repaired to the 
 cottages around, and Misnar and Noradin were led 
 by the chief to a spot, where shortly the whole 
 assembly built them a cottage of bamboo and the 
 leaves of the plantain. 
 
 As soon as they were retired, Noradin, taking 
 Misnar by the hand, asked him, whether she de- 
 served his constant love, for the choice she had 
 made? 
 
 Misnar, somewhat startled at her question, asked 
 what were the customs of her tribe ? 
 
 ' For ten days,' answered the amiable Noradin, 
 ' I shall be v/ith thee, and on the eleventh, if our 
 choice be fixed, the chief will lead us to him who 
 readeth the Koran, that our vows may be pledged 
 in his presence ; during this interval, my father's 
 friends will attend us, that, in case you refuse me, 
 I may return a virgin to their arms ; nay, even 
 now are tliey building their huts around us.'
 
 MISNAR, EJJLTAN OF INDIA. 185 
 
 Misnar was much chagrined at these words, as 
 in his heart he expected the full enjoyment of his 
 beautiful mistress, and his mind now turned on the 
 great business he had to perform. ' But,' said he 
 to himself, ^ to what purpose is it to think of my 
 kingdom or my pilgrimage, since I am here de- 
 tained by a set of savage foresters, who acknow- 
 ledge no law but their own will ? It is the part of 
 prudence, then, to bear with patience and ease, the 
 misfortunes of life. I will indulge myself with 
 this amiable female till the days of my confinement 
 are at an end.' Then, turning to the fair Noradin, 
 the Sultan said, ' O thou joy of my life, I will wait 
 with patience ; nevertheless, I would that the 
 hours of anxiety were shorter, and that the dawn 
 of my happiness would this moment arise.' 
 
 ' Say then,' answered Noradin, ' thou on whom 
 my thoughts hang, shall the compliance of thy 
 beloved, fix my lovely wanderer for ever in these 
 arms V 
 
 Misnar was confounded at the request of his 
 fair companion, and his heart recoiled at her 
 words. 
 
 ' What,' said the Sultan to himself, ' shall I, for 
 the casual gratifications of my passion, give up 
 the glories of my father's kingdom, and the vice- 
 gerency of Mahomet ? Or shall I basely betray 
 that love which is profiered me, and for a few 
 days' pleasure, embitter fair Noradin's future cup 
 of life 1 No,' said he aloud, turning to his amiable 
 mistress, ' never let the man of integrity deceive 
 the soft heart that means him happiness. Forgive 
 me, all-beauteous Noradin ! but the volumes of my 
 fate are open, and the Prophet of the faithful will 
 not permit me to indulge here the secret affections 
 of my mind; though the soul of thy slave will be 
 torn and divided, yet must he depart with the ex- 
 piring fires of your festival.'
 
 180 THE enchanters; OB, 
 
 ' Base, cold, and senseless wretch,' said the false 
 Noradin (as the beauteous vision vanished from 
 the eyes of the Sultan, and he beheld the en- 
 chantress Ulin before him), 'call not thy frozen 
 purpose virtue, but the green fruits of unripened 
 manhood ; beauty is ever superior to prudence, and 
 the ecstasies of love are triumphant over the 
 powers of reason : but thou art susceptible of 
 neither love nor beauty; and therefore not thy 
 prudence but my folly hath saved thee, who threw 
 a tasteless bait in the paths of thy pilgrimage. 
 However, what nature would permit, I have ob- 
 tained ; and though thou art escaped, puny animal 
 as thou art, from the power of my enchantments, 
 yet shall the southern kingdoms of India feel my 
 scourge. Proceed then, superstitious reptile, on 
 thy tame pilgrimage to Mecca, while Horam feels 
 the vengeance of my arm in the sultry deserts of 
 Ahajah.' 
 
 As she spake thus, she stretched out her wand ; 
 and the fires and the foresters, and the enchantress 
 Ulin, disappeared from the sight of the astonished 
 Sultan. 
 
 The Sultan immediately prostrated himself on 
 the ground, and gave glory to Mahomet for his 
 wonderful escape ; and, pursuing his journey, con- 
 tinued his course for two moons, through the wide- 
 extended forest of Tarapajan.' 
 
 During this time he carefully examined the 
 tablets which the vizier Horam had given him ; but 
 was very uneasy at finding the leaves always fair. 
 ' Alas !' said he to himself, ' I have trusted to a 
 base man, who, perhaps, has taken advantage of 
 my credulity, and intends to set the crown of India 
 on my brother's head! there needed not the 
 powers of enchantment to overthrow me, since I 
 have betrayed at once my folly and my cause.'
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 187 
 
 Misnar, therefore, resolved to travel back to 
 Delhi, and learn the cause of Horam's silence : but 
 however, as he neglected not to look on the tablets 
 every day, he at length, as he was examining them 
 under a palm-tree, found the following inscrip- 
 tion therein : 
 
 ' Horam, the Faithful Slave of the Sultan of the 
 East, to Misnar, the Lord of his Heart. 
 
 ' Some time after I left my royal Sultan in the 
 forest, while my heart was sad within my breast, 
 and my eyelids were heavy with the tears of sepa- 
 ration, came a hasty messenger from the outskirts 
 of the rebel army, and declared their approach : 
 and that the Southern provinces had revolted, and 
 were added to the opposers of the Sultan of the 
 earth. When thy slave was certain of this intelli- 
 gence from the mouths of many, who hastened to 
 the camp with these bad tidings, I commanded the 
 armies of India to be increased, and a more exact 
 discipline to be observed in my master's camp, 
 and, perceiving that the enemy liastened to meet 
 my Sultan's forces, I shortened the march of my 
 slaves, that the fatigues of the desert might not 
 prevail more against them, than the face and the 
 sword of their enemies. Moreover, I led thy 
 troops through the most cultivated countries, that 
 the necessaries of life might be procured for the 
 multitudes that followed thy tent, with tlie greater 
 ease. But, alas ! the presence of my lord is not 
 with his people, and the army murmur that they 
 are led by a Sultan, who cheers not their labours 
 by the light of his person : so that the hearts of 
 thy people are withdrawn from Horam thy slave, 
 and the captains of thousands demand admittance 
 to thy tent, and accuse thy vizier with evil devices 
 against thee, my lord, the Sultan.' 
 
 As the Sultan read this intelligence in the tablet
 
 188 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 of Horam, his heart failed within him, and the 
 sight of his eyes was a mist before him. 
 
 'O Misnar, Misnar!' said he, falling to the 
 ground, ' the fiend of darkness is let loose upon 
 thee, and tlie powers of enchantment still prevail !' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Ulin the enchantress, who imme- 
 diately appeared, ' the powers of enchantment 
 shall prevail ! IMisnar, the faithful servant of 
 Mahomet, hath at length yielded to my power, 
 and Alia hath given to my vengeance the wretch 
 that doubts his protection. — Crawl, therefore/ 
 continued she, ' vile reptile, on the earth, and be- 
 come a toad, that sucketh the poisonous vapour, 
 and that draweth from the sunbeam a venomous 
 fire.' 
 
 At the powerful voice of her enchantment, the 
 Sultan shrunk from his native fissure, and became 
 a reptile on the earth. He opened his pestiferous 
 jaws, and the black venom fell from his tongue, 
 and he trailed his broad, yellow, speckled belly in 
 the dust. His change of form did not take from 
 Misnar his memory or recollection : he was sensible 
 of his disgrace, and of the justness of his sen- 
 tence ; and, though he could not fly from himself, 
 yet he hastened into the thicket, that he might 
 hide his filthy corse from the light of Heaven. 
 
 Bttt the hungry calls of nature soon drove him 
 from his recess, to seek his proper food in the 
 desert. 
 
 He crawled forth, and found himself led on by a 
 scent that pleased him ; his spirits seemed en- 
 livened by the sweet odour, and his cold feeble 
 limbs were endued with a brisker motion. 
 
 ' Surely,' said he, in his heart, ' the bounteous 
 Alia hath not left the meanest of his creatures 
 without comfort and joy. The smell is as the 
 smell of roses, and life and vigour are in these at- 
 tractive paths.'
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 189 
 
 With these thoughts he crawled forwards into 
 the thickest covert ; and though his body was 
 drawn with a secret impulse, yet his mind was 
 filled with horror, when he came in sight of a 
 mangled and corrupted body, which lay hid among 
 the bushes. One of his own deformed kind sat 
 squatting beside it ; and, like himself, seemed to 
 desire, and yet detest the loathsome feast. 
 
 Misnar, at the sight of one of his hideous kind, 
 •was filled with scorn and rage ; and, forgetting his 
 present transformation, was about to drive him 
 from the mangled body : when the reptile, opening 
 his mouth, addressed him in the language of 
 Delhi. 
 
 ' Whether thou art really what thy form be- 
 speaks thee,' said the reptile, ' or, like me, the vic- 
 tim of enchantment, answer V 
 
 The Sultan, surprised at this address, and per- 
 ceiving that misery was not his portion alone, de- 
 sired to know by what means his fellow-creature 
 suffered such a wretched change. 
 
 ' Since I perceive by your speech,' said the rep- 
 tile, ' that one event has happened to us both, I shall 
 not be averse to declare to you the cause of my 
 transformation ; but I shall expect that my con- 
 fidence will not be misplaced, and that, after I have 
 made you acquainted with my history, you will 
 not refuse to reveal your own.' 
 
 * A similitude in our fates,' replied Misnar, ' has 
 already made us brethren ; and I should be unrea- 
 sonable to ask a favour I meant not to return.' 
 
 ' Well then,' said he, ' we will depart from this 
 wretched sight, into a different thicket, where we 
 may unmolested bewail our uncommon fates: for 
 although the enchantress Ulin, to disgrace our for- 
 mer natures, and to make us the more sensible of 
 our present deformity, obliges us, by a miserable
 
 190 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 attraction, to meet daily before this horrid specta- 
 cle, yet our food is of the fruits of the earth : for 
 the wicked enchantress has not the power to make 
 us, even in this deformed habit, do that which is 
 contrary to our human nature.' 
 
 As he was speaking, another toad came up to the 
 corse. — ' Here,' continued the first, ' is another of 
 our brethren ; and another will soon be here : we 
 were three before you came among us. — Where, O 
 princess, is the last victim of Ulin's ragel' said he 
 to the second. 
 
 ' He was basking,' answered the second, ' in the 
 sand ; but I roused him, and he is now on his 
 way.' 
 
 In a few minutes the third arrived ; and as soon 
 as he beheld the mangled body, the attraction 
 ceased; when, the first leading the way, they de- 
 parted into another thicket. 
 
 ' Here,' said the first, ' O stranger, we may rest 
 securely ; and the serpent cannot annoy us, for we 
 are seated under the shade of the fragrant cinna- 
 mon.' — ' We are obliged to you for the care of us,' 
 said Misnar : ' but I am eager to hear the cause of 
 your transformation.' 
 
 The Hhtory of MaJioud. 
 
 I AM (replied the toad) the son of a jeweller in 
 Delhi, and my name is Mahoud : my father, after 
 a life of industry and parsimonj', finding himself 
 declining, sent for me, and on his death-bed said, 
 ' O Mahoud, my days have been the days of care, 
 but success hath attended them; I have toiled, 
 that thou mayest reap ; sown, tliat thou mayest 
 gather; and laboured, that my son may enjoy the 
 fruits of my industry. My peace and comfort have 
 been sacrificed to thine ; and now do I die assured
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 101 
 
 that my beloved Mahoud will not be pinched by 
 poverty, or oppressed by penury and want. Happy 
 are those prudent parents, who, like nie, can smile 
 at death, and leave their offspring independent of 
 the world !' 
 
 Thus said my aged father, and expired ; and my 
 tears accompanied his departing spirit : but these 
 soon gave place to that ardent curiosity which 
 drove me to explore those riches he had left me. 
 
 I opened box after box with a silent rapture, 
 and was pleased to find wealth sufficient to satisfy 
 eventhe appetite of youth ; many diamonds appear- 
 ed among m.y father's wealth, which never could 
 have passed the royal sieve, and many others of 
 infinite value, besides large quantities of gold and 
 silver; so that, in my youthful judgment, there 
 appeared no end to my riches. 
 
 It was not wonderful, that, being so suddenly 
 put in possession of these riches, I should seek every 
 pleasure and diversion which wealth could purchase. 
 All who were the companions of my childhood, all 
 who would court an unexperienced heart, were ad- 
 mitted to my table ; and the <;trict laws of Mahomet 
 were less regarded in my house than the rich wines 
 which sparkled at my feasts. Nor were thecharms 
 of the fair forgot : we endeavoured to procure 
 Houris, if not as pure, at least as beautiful as those 
 of Mahomet : and while our goblets were filled with 
 wine, we envied not the deceased their rivers of 
 milk. 
 
 Thus passed I my life, among those who jest with 
 religion, and make their mock at the rules of pru- 
 dence and sobriety. But the time soon came, v^heu 
 my hours of revelry were to be changed for those 
 of sorrow, and then I was first to learn, that a fa- 
 ll. er's prudence will not secure a wicked son from 
 the shafts and arrows of bitterness and grief.
 
 192 THE ENCHANTERS; OR, 
 
 My possessions, though ample, were nearly ex- 
 hausted by ignorance and extortion : my jewels were 
 pone ; unacquainted with their value, I had rather 
 flung them away than sold them ; my silver and 
 gold were become the property of my friends ; who, 
 when I applied to them in return, were much more 
 assiduous, if possible, in preserving it from me, than 
 I had been in squandering it on them ; so that, in a 
 few days, even the merchants, who had been such 
 gainers by me, came now to demand some trifling 
 sums that I had borrowed of them, and being un- 
 able to pay them, they seized my furniture, and 
 stripped me of my clothes, to satisfy their cruel 
 demands. 
 
 In this situation I was turned out of my own 
 doors, by those whom 1 had received a thousand 
 times in my arms, and spurned at, like a dog, by 
 those whom I had pressed to my bosom. 
 
 Stung by reflections on my former follies, and ig- 
 norant where to fly for shelter, I covered myself 
 ■with some few rags that had been cast to me, and 
 sat down before the house of a rich young m.an, 
 who, like myself, seemed to be squandering his 
 wealth on the scum of the earth. 
 
 Bennaskar (for that was his name) soon came 
 forth, with his minstrels and singers at his heels, 
 and, seeing a miserable figure before his doors, he 
 asked what I wanted. I tuld him, that once, like 
 himself, I gave life to the dance, and mirth to my 
 friends ; but that want of caution had been the 
 cause of my ruin, and too much confidence on those 
 who least deserved my favour. 
 
 Several of his friends, hearing this, would have 
 driven me from his presence, saying it was unfit 
 such a wretch should even enjoy the blessings of 
 the air : but Bennaskar would not siifTer it, and 
 asked roe, ' whether the insincerity of my friends
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 193 
 
 had learned me to be sincere to others ?' I answered 
 him, that I had ever been sincere, even to those 
 who were undeservinof, and that I had. rather die 
 than betray my friend. 
 
 ' If what you say is true,' said Bennaskar, ' I 
 will try you : go in, and my servants shall clotlie 
 you, and you shall live with me ; I only ask in re- 
 turn, that you never disclose to any one what you 
 hear or see transacted in my house.' 
 
 'Sir,' answered I, 'your offer is gracious, and 
 bespeaks your generous intentions : but I do not 
 choose to live on another's bounty, unless I can 
 make myself useful:' 
 
 ' That,' answered Bennaskar, ' you may do, if 
 J find I can trust you : I have long been in search 
 of one I could trust ; I want such an one, bat can- 
 not find him.' 
 
 The friends of Bennaskar then surrounded their 
 lord, and each confusedly offered their services to 
 him. 
 
 ' No,' said the young man, ' though I appear 
 unthoughtful in your eyes, O servile race of flat- 
 terers ! yet know, to all your confusions, that I have 
 tried you all, and find you trifling and insincere: 
 this man alone refuses my proffered love, unless he 
 can return it ; and this man alone is worthy of njy 
 esteem.' 
 
 The friends of Bennaskar were thunderstruck at 
 his words, and renewed their protestations : but he 
 commanded his servants to drive them from his 
 house ; and, taking me by the hand, he led me 
 into an inner, but sumptuous apartment. 
 
 As soon as we arrived there, I prostrated myself 
 at his feet, and said, ' Let not my lord be angry 
 with his servant : but thou hast not told me what 
 service thou wilt expect from me.' 
 
 • All that I require,' answered Bennaskar, ' is, 
 o
 
 194 THE ENCHANTERS ; OK, 
 
 that you disclose not to any one what you hear or 
 see transacted in my house.' 
 
 ' My lord,' answered I, 'of what service can I 
 be to you by such a compliance ? If I am silent, 
 thy slaves may speak, and I shall be blamed for 
 their insincerity. I pray thee, let me return to my 
 rags, and set me not in a place where thy vassals 
 will be tempted to ruin me in thy favour.' 
 
 * Your answer,' said Beunaskar, ' is the answer 
 of a prudent man : but fear not ! I cannot do with- 
 out you, and I hope you will not refuse my proffered 
 love. Wliat you will see, none will see besides 
 you ; therefore none but yourself will be unfaithful 
 to me.' 
 
 On this assurance, I accepted the bounteous offer 
 of Bennaskar; and the slaves led me to the bath, 
 and I washed, and was perfumed and arrayed in a 
 vestment of my lord's. 
 
 Bennaskar was impatient to see me ; and as I 
 was led into his presence, the young man hastened 
 to meet me, and, folding me in his arms, he said, 
 
 * May I at length meet a friend I can trust ?' And 
 I answered, ' May Mahoud be the friend of thy 
 bosom !' 
 
 Bennaskar then led me into another apartment, 
 and meats were set before us, and he ordered the 
 females that dance, to come and entertain us. 
 
 ' Women,' said Bennaskar, as we were eating, 
 ' are the sweeteners of life.' — ' Rather,' answered I, 
 
 * they are the curses of life But for these, Ma- 
 houd had still slept secure, and the will of his 
 father had prospered.' 
 
 * What,' answered Bennaskar, ' is my friend able 
 to withstand the charms of beauty, and the lovely 
 invitations of the charmer? Then,' continued he, 
 ' thou mayest indeed become my friend : for he 
 who can conquer love, is master of the earth.'
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 195 
 
 ^ Xot SO,' answered I : ^ I do not say I liave con- 
 quered : far otherwise, I have been conquered : and 
 the wounded dread and loath the spear and the 
 sword.' 
 
 * But/ said Bennaskar, * these are common forms; 
 to slight these, is easy : but I will lead thee where 
 thou must be subdued.' 
 
 'Lead me not,' answered T, 'O Bennaskar! I 
 shall receive no pleasure, though thou set before 
 me the sultanas of Delhi; and the female thou 
 lovest may be disgusted at my indifference.' 
 
 ' Rest satisfied,' said Bennaskar, with a smile : 
 * I meant but to try thee ; these dancers suffice 
 me; I covet not the trouble nor the parade of more 
 costly females. But I see thou art moved; let us 
 walk into the orange-grove, and enjoy the breeze.' 
 
 Thus, for some time, I spent my days with the 
 agreeable Bennaskar ; every day we varied our en- 
 joyments, and were mutually satisfied with each 
 other. 
 
 I had now been with my friend eighteen days, 
 and no interruption was given to our friendship ; 
 when, on the nineteenth morning, Bennaskar ap- 
 peared with a clouded visage. 
 
 ' What,' said I, ' my lord, is the cause of your 
 grief? Shall not Mahoud share alike with you the 
 smiles and the frowns of Alia?' 
 
 ' Is it not,' said Bennaskar, ' O Mahoud, the 
 full of the moon V — * It is,' replied I, with a smile ; 
 'but doth Bennaskar intend to change with that 
 fluctuating planet?' 
 
 ' O Mahoud,' said Bennaskar, ' the fate of thy 
 friend is dependent on the caprice of the stars ; to- 
 night must I put thy utmost friendship to the trial I 
 If Mahoud prove insincere, then is Bennaskar cursed 
 among men. If thy heart is not firm, now, while 
 there is time, depart. But why should I doubt
 
 196 THE ENCHANTERS ; OE, 
 
 thee ? surely Mahoncl is of the sons of the faithful. 
 — IVow, IMahoud, enter that closet which is oppo- 
 site us, and put on the slave's dress which you will 
 find there, and anoint thy face and thy hands 
 with this black ointment.' 
 
 I immediately obeyed Bennaskar, and in a short 
 time I came forth arrayed like a slave. 
 
 * Kind Mahoud,' said Bennaskar, ' thou art ex- 
 cellently disguised; now obey with silence, and 
 stand as a mute before his lord.' 
 
 I folded my arms, and nodded assent; at which 
 Bennaskar smiled. 
 
 ' Take hold, Mahoud,' said he, * of that ring of 
 iron, which is fastened to the middle of the floor; 
 and pull.' 
 
 I obeyed, and a little trap-door came up. I 
 looked down, and perceived a woman in rich vest- 
 ments, half buried in the earth. 
 
 1 shuddered at the sight, and was falling back- 
 ward; when Bennaskar struck me with a chabouc, 
 which he drew from his bosom, and said : — ' Vil- 
 lain, if thou fail me, I shall use thee as my slave.' 
 
 Although I was enraged at the blow, yet I re- 
 membered my promise ; and returned to the trap- 
 door. 
 
 ' Slave,' said Bennaskar, ' dig that female out of 
 the ground ; the spade and the mattock are hidden 
 under the floor.' 
 
 As soon as I had removed the earth from the 
 female, which I did with great care, Bennaskar 
 commanded me to lift the body into the apartment, 
 gave me a phial of clear blue liquor, and ordered 
 me to pour it in her mouth, while he retired into 
 the closet. 
 
 I willingly obeyed Bennaskar, and hastened to 
 pour down the liquor, while Bennaskar retired. 
 As soon as the liquor was down, the lovely female
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 107 
 
 began to move, and in a short time slie opened her 
 languisliing eyes, and, casting them upon me, she 
 shrieked out, and clapping lier hands together, she 
 cried, — 'O Alia, defend me!' 
 
 Benna«kar at the same time spoke as follows 
 from the closet where he was concealed : — 
 
 ' Hemjunah,' said he, ' are you as yet disposed 
 to yield yourself to the will of Bennaskar, or must 
 we still experience the evils of opposite enchant- 
 ment ? for, although Macoma will not permit me to 
 see you without depriving you of sensation, and 
 me of desire ; yet will Ulin still subject you to her 
 imperial will.' 
 
 ' Wretch !' answered the fair stranger, * I fear 
 not the powers of your accursed magic ; for Ma- 
 coma has assured me, that you shall not be able to 
 overpower me without my own consent : and Ma- 
 homet, though for a time he permits this enchant- 
 ment, will at length assuredly deliver me.' 
 
 * Then,' answered Bennaskar, ' must the lash 
 of compulsion issue forth. — Here,' continued he, 
 ' slave Mahoud, inflict fifty lashes on that obdu- 
 rate female.' 
 
 I took the chaboue from Bennaskar, and began, 
 with trembling, my ill-fated task ; cursing inwardly 
 my own blind compliance, in promising to obey a 
 monster, and not a friend. 
 
 As the lash touched the beauteons Hemjunah, 
 she made the vaulted roof re-echo with her cries; 
 nor cHdmy heart feel less sensibly the strokes which 
 I gave, than her own ; the tears trickled down my 
 cheeks, and I prayed inwardly to be delivered from 
 the cursed task, and was never more happy than 
 when it was completed. 
 
 ' What,' said Bennaskar, from the closet, ' what 
 doth Hemjunah now say to my desires?' 
 
 'The heard-hearted and the cruel,' said Hemju-
 
 193 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 nah, faintly, ' are the last to win the soft affections 
 of a female heart ; rather let me die, than be the 
 property of the vile Bennaskar.' 
 
 'If so,' said he, coming from the closet, 'die; 
 for the present I resign my power; let Macoma 
 hide thee again in the dust of the earth.' 
 
 Bennaskar did no sooner appear, than the beau- 
 tiful Hemjunah again seemed to die away; and 
 immediately a hissing noise was heard, and an ugly 
 dwarf arose from the trap-door, and took the body 
 of Hemjunah, replacing it in the earth; and the 
 trap-door was closed with a roaring noise. 
 
 Bennaskar then beckoned me to follow him ; and 
 he led me to the bath, and bade me wash, and after 
 return to the saloon in my proper vestments. 
 
 Bennaskar met me on my return. ' Whence 
 cometh Mahoud V said he. 
 
 ' I aui just,' answered I, * risen from the bath; 
 and 1 am come to meet my friend Bennaskar.' 
 
 ' Mahoud,' answered Bennaskar, ' art thou faith- 
 ful, and wilt thou ever remain faithful to thy 
 friend V 
 
 The words of Bennaskar embarrassed me, and, 
 not daring to answer otherwise, 1 said, — ' Why 
 doth my lord doubt the sincerity of my heart ?' 
 
 ' Mahoud then,' returned he, ' is faithful ?' 
 
 * He is,' answered I, but with an unwilling heart. 
 
 ' I doubt not,' continued Bennaskar, * but ray 
 friend is amazed at the scene he lately beheld : but 
 ask no explanations, let thy mouth be ever closed 
 to seek or reveal.' 
 
 ' Then,' answered I, ' you doubt the faithfulness 
 of Mahoud ; else, why may not 1 know the meaning 
 of the wonders I have seen V 
 
 '■ The age of thy friendship,' said Bennaskar, * is 
 d month ; and wouldest thou be admitted in so short 
 li time to all the secrets of my heart ? Forljcar, rash
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. ICO 
 
 youth, and soar not at the sun, while thy flutterinj^ 
 pinions will not lift thee over the tops of the moun- 
 tains. A well-tried friend is Bennaskar'sjoy; but 
 woes and death are in the paths of his enemies.' 
 
 As he said this, he frowned, and left me ; and I 
 retired to my chamber, irresolute in my mind. As 
 1 entered my chamber, I perceived a small book 
 open on a desk before the burning lamps. I went 
 np to it, and found it was the Koran of our holy 
 law. Being little desirousof sleep, I sat down ; and 
 as I read concerning the Holy Cow, methought I 
 saw the name of Mahoud in the book. 
 
 Startled at the vision, I looked again, and read 
 distinctly these words : — 
 
 ' Mahoud ! Mahoud ! Mahoud ! There is much 
 good in the world, but there is more evil ; the good 
 is the gift of A 11a, but the evil is the choice of his 
 creatures. Taken by the crafty dissimulation of 
 Bennaskar, thy easy soul gave into his snares, and 
 thy prudence was decoyed by the voice of his 
 mouth. Had Mahoud entiHged to conceal every 
 thing but what the law of Mahomet obliged him to 
 reveal, he had behaved wisely : but he who walketh 
 in darkness, will undoubtedly fall into the pit. 
 Past errors cannot be recalled ; and Mahoud must 
 learn the wisdom of experience. Under the resem- 
 blance of the Koran, behold, the Genius Macoma 
 instructs thine lieart. I perceive evil will attend 
 thee, if thou dost attempt the enlargement of the 
 Princess of Cassimir : and yet without it, thou must 
 still continue the servant of cruelty and oppression. 
 Choose, therefore, for yourself: if injured inno- 
 cence can move thee, boldly suffer in the cause of 
 truth, and take this book in thy bosom, which shall 
 at all times admit thee to a sight of the princess ; if 
 not, be still the slave of the enemy of the Prophet.*
 
 aOO THE EXCHAXTERS; OR, 
 
 After this, I looked again on the book, but 
 found I could read no more : however, I doubted 
 not to engage in the service of the princess ; and 
 therefore, taking the bf)ok in my bosom, and the 
 lamp in my hand, I went toward the saloon, sup- 
 posing that Bennaskar was asleep. I searched for 
 the rooms through which I had passed before, and 
 soon perceived the vaulted apartment at the end of 
 them. 
 
 I hastened to take up the trap-door, and, touch- 
 ing the Princess Hemjunah with the book, I essayed 
 to deliver her from her miserable confinement. The 
 princess awaked at the touch of the book ; but, at 
 the sight of me, shrieked aloud, and I feared lest 
 her cries should awaken Bennaskar. I assured her, 
 that I was sent by the Genius Macoma to effect her 
 deliverance, and that 1 abhorred every kind of 
 cruelty which I had practised upon her. 
 
 ' Alas !' said she, still shrieking at intervals, 
 'your story betrays your wickedness; I never be- 
 fore saw you, unless you are, as I suspect, the ma- 
 gician Bennaskar, under some feigned appearance : 
 but rest assured, vile man ! that no deceit or cru- 
 elty shall ever make me the creature of Bennas- 
 kar. I will ever persist in my hatred of yon; and 
 I am assured that you cannot defile or destj-oy 
 me.' 
 
 'Most adorable Princess Hemjunah!' said I, 
 prostrating myself before her ; ' let me beseech 
 you to hear me: 1 am not Bennaskar, nor a crea- 
 ture of Bennaskar's, but the servant of the Genius 
 jMacoma, Mho has instructed me, by means of this 
 holy book,' (which I then pulled out,) ' to attempt 
 your rescue ; and I am willing to lay down my life 
 lor your safety. You have not indeed seen me in 
 my present character, but this very night was I 
 brought hither by Bennaskar, under the similitude
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 201 
 
 of a slave, and forced, through a most accursed 
 oath, to inflict the severest tortures on the most 
 delicate of her sex.' 
 
 ' Wretch !' said the princess,'! am now con- 
 vinced of thy perfidy, allowing thine own account 
 to be true ; for what purpose could bind thee to a 
 cruel action, or why wast thou afraid to suffer 
 thyself, rather than make an innocent virgin the 
 subject of thy cruelties ? But if thou art truly 
 the servant of Macoma, and ashamed of thy late 
 inhuman deeds, quit the house of the vile Ben- 
 naskar, and inform the cadi of his cruelties and 
 sorceries.* 
 
 ' Rather,' said 1, ' my princess, let me dig 
 around you, and release you from this miserable 
 confinement.' 
 
 ' That,' said the princess, * you cannot do, un- 
 less you are indeed, as I suspect, the wretch Ben- 
 naskar ; for by his command alone can I be re- 
 leased. — O fool that I was,' continued she, with 
 tears, ' to listen for a moment to the falsities of 
 man!' 
 
 ' If my information,' said I, 'O lovely Hemju- 
 nah, will avail, this moment will I fly to the cadi, 
 and acquaint him with your distress.' 
 
 I then hastened to go : but O, judge my terror 
 and amazement, when I saw Bennaskar moving 
 {hrough the apartments which led to the vaulted 
 chamber ! 
 
 As he advanced, Hemjunah shrieked, and I was 
 ready to sink : though my intentions were just and 
 good, yet was I terrified by his appearance ; so 
 much was I sunk by the rash promise which I had 
 made ; and I every moment expected the dreadful 
 effects of his powerful malice. 
 
 As Bennaskar entered the vaulted chamber, I 
 shrunk back with fear, and dared not lift up uiy
 
 202 THE EXCIIAXTERS; OK, 
 
 eyes ; but my terror was soon quieted, when I saw 
 him fall prostrate at my feet. T then no lonfjef 
 doubted but that the Genius Macoma supported 
 me; and attributed his behaviour to her superna- 
 tural power. 
 
 ' O Mahoud,' said Bennaskar, ' the friend of my 
 bosom, the partner of ray secrets ; although the 
 power of love has not the rule in thine heart, yet 
 pity those who are the slaves of its dominion ; if 
 the lovely Princess of Cassimir did but know the 
 purity of my heart, the ' 
 
 ' Hear not the villain !' said Hemjunah, ' O ser- 
 vant of Macoma, unless he release me from this 
 detested place : me he hath already deceived ; and 
 you will be subjected likewise to his power, unless 
 the prudent spirit of Macoma direct thee.' 
 
 * Then,' said Bennaskar, rising up, and laying 
 bare his bosom — ' Here, Mahoud, strike, and end 
 my miseries, and the miseries of Hemjunah: but 
 never will Bennaskar consent to lose the treasure 
 of his heart.' 
 
 * I will not,' answered I, * lift up my private arm 
 against thy life, but I shall deliver thee to the 
 power of the cadi, who is the deputy of the great 
 Alla's vicegerent.' ^ 
 
 ' Give me then,' said the Princess of Cassimir, 
 ' the book of the Genius Macoma, that I may ba 
 defended from the insults and contrivances of the 
 base Bennaskar.' The request of the princess ap- 
 peared so reasonable, that I obeyed her, and put 
 the book into her hands. 
 
 Bennaskar, when 1 was leaving the vaulted cham- 
 ber, besought me not to destroy the friend that had 
 supported me : but I told him, that Alia was to 
 be obeyed rather than man. 
 
 I hastened to the cadi : but as it was night, his 
 officers told me I could not be heard, till I informed
 
 MISNA.R, SULTA.V OF INDIA. 203 
 
 them that I had in my power a wicked magician, 
 who, by sorceries, had stolen the Princess of Cassi- 
 mir. When they heard this, they acquainted the 
 cadi ; and that vigilant magistrate arose, and follow- 
 ed me to the house of Bennaskar, with his guard. 
 
 As I entered the house of Bennaskar, I was 
 amazed to see him standing in the entrance with a 
 lamp in his hand : but my astonishment increased, 
 •when I saw him fall down before the cadi, and con- 
 fess his guilt. 
 
 The cadi commanded the guards to seize him 
 and then ordered him to lead us to the place where 
 he had concealed the Princess of Cassimir. Ben- 
 naskar obeyed : but as he w«nt through the apart- 
 ments, he said to me : — * ^lahoud, you are sensible, 
 that the Princess Hemjunah's body is half buried in 
 the earth, and uncovered ; therefore prevail upon 
 the cadi, that he suffer us to go before and release 
 her ; for my part, my sins opiiress me, and I wish 
 to restore to her dignity a much-injured princess.* 
 
 ' If,' said I, ' you will promise to release the 
 princess, I will endeavour to prevail on the cadi to 
 permit what you purpose ; but otherwise, let the 
 whole world be a witness of your accursed malice.' 
 
 ' O my friend,' said Bennaskar, ' accuse me not : 
 my own heart persecutes me sufficiently : yes, Ma- 
 houd,' continued he, ' I will, as you require me, 
 release the princess, and trust to the mercy of the 
 cadi; for the service of the evil Genii will neither 
 bring me profit nor peace.' 
 
 I was pleased at this repentance of Bennaskar, 
 and besought the cadi that he would suffer us to 
 enter the vaulted chamber first, and recover the 
 princess from her enchantment. The cadi acqui- 
 esced in my proposal, but ordered the guards to 
 surround the entrance, while Bennaskar and myself 
 entered the chamber.
 
 -204 THE exchakterS; or. 
 
 As soon as we entered, Bennaskar seized me 
 suddenly by the throat, and, before I could speak 
 or recollect myself, he dragged me into the closet, 
 and shut the door after us. 
 
 'Now,' said he, 'villain! receive the just re- 
 wards of a perjured heart.' Saying this, he spit 
 in my face, and threw me on the ground, and then 
 flew out of the closet, shutting the door forcibly 
 after him. 
 
 I remained for some moments stupified by my 
 fall ; but after a time arose, and opening the closet, 
 I was surprised to see neither the Princess of Cas- 
 simir, nor the magician Bennaskar. 
 
 While I was in this confusion, the cadi and his 
 guards, being impatient at our stay, entered the 
 chamber, and the Cadi commanded his guards to 
 seize me, saying: — 'Villain, where is the Princess 
 of Cassimir, and the man who revealed thy un- 
 righteous actions!' 
 
 At this, I began to answer ; when, — O accursed 
 fortune ! I perceived my voice was as the voice of 
 Bennaskar. I immediately looked on ray clothes, 
 and found them changed. In short, I doubted not 
 but that my malicious foe had transformed me 
 into his own appearance. 
 
 I fell at the feet of the cadi, and besought him 
 one moment to hear me : I acquainted him with 
 every circumstance of my adventures, from my 
 entrance into the house of Benna>kar, till that 
 present moment. But he and his guards laughed 
 at my tale : however, in a few moments, he grew 
 more cool, and commanded me to deliver up my 
 friend and the Princess of Cassimir. In vain did 
 I call Alia to witness the truth of my story ; the 
 cadi was enraged at my persisting in the tale, and 
 ardered his guards to give me a hundred strokes 
 with the chabouc.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 205 
 
 To add to my misfortune, Bennaskar appeared 
 at one end of the room ; and when I cried out, and 
 pointed to him, the cadi, who saw him not, think- 
 ing that I meant to mock him, ordered me another 
 hundred lashes with the chabouc. 
 
 Vexed with myself, and subdued by the pains of 
 my punishment, I fell on the ground, and my 
 guarrls were ordered to carry me to the prison, 
 vthtie I was thrown into a deep dungeon, loaded 
 with chains. 
 
 The next morning I was brought out again be- 
 fore the cadi, and carried into the public hall of 
 justice. The cadi there passed judgment upon 
 me, that I should be burnt alive the next day, un- 
 less I delivered up Mahoud, and the Princess of 
 Cassimir. 
 
 Finding it vain to repeat my declarations, that 
 I was the real Mahoud, and that I suffered 
 through the vile enchantments of Bennaskar. I 
 remained silent ; but this was construed into sur- 
 liness, and I was ordered five hundred bastinadoes 
 to make me speak. I therefore begged the cadi to 
 conceive what I could possibly answer ; supposing 
 my tale to be true, I had, I said, suffered severely 
 for my rash promise to Bennaskar, and I must 
 submit to my fate. 
 
 The cadi then commanded me to be carried back 
 to the dungeon, and that a large pile of wood 
 should be raised in the market-place, whereon I 
 might be burnt the next morning, before all the 
 people. 
 
 I spent the night in the utmost horror, and ear- 
 nestly wished that the sun might never more be- 
 hold my sorrows. But yet the night passed away 
 as usual, and the stars fled from the face of day, 
 and I beheld the dreadful morning of my execu- 
 tion.
 
 206 THE ENCHANTERS ; 015, 
 
 A tumultuous crowd was gathered together be 
 fore the door of the dungeon, to see me pass to 
 my execution ; and as I was dragged along, the 
 common people nearly overwhelmed me with 
 stones. 
 
 As I advanced to the pile, I perceived the cadi 
 and his officers were seated before it, and that 
 magistrate commanded me to be brought again be- 
 fore him ere I was bound to the pile. 
 
 ' Art thou/ said he, as I approached him, ' art 
 thou, wretched magician, willing to bring forth the 
 princess, or thy friend ; who are concealed by thy 
 wicked arts ; or must the sentence of our law be 
 executed upon thee V 
 
 ' judge,' said I, 'since my tale will not gain 
 credit with thee, at least let me know by whose 
 accusation is it that I am brought before thee, and 
 who is it that accuses me of magic or sorcery ? 
 Am not I Bennaskar, the wealthy merchant of 
 Delhi, and where are my accusers ? Who dare say 
 aught against my fame ? You came into my house 
 by nisrhr, you seized my person, you inflicted on 
 me the punishment of a slave ; you cast me into a 
 dungeon, and condemned me to the flames : and 
 all this without the appearance of a single witness 
 aaainst me : wherefore, O cadi, I appeal unto the 
 righteous Sultan of the East, and I hope my 
 fellow-citizens will not suffer me to be executed, 
 while no proofs of guilt are brought against me.' 
 
 * Young man,' answered the cadi, ' your appeal 
 is unnecessary, for I am not desirous of destroying 
 my fellow-creatures without a cause. Your plea 
 were just and proper, did not your own confession 
 contradict your present assertion. Yesterday you 
 declared that yon was not Bennaskar, and to-day 
 you say you are ; wherefore, out of your own 
 lips, I have convicted you of falsity j whereas, had
 
 MISNAR, SULTAxX OF INDIA. 207 
 
 yoa really been Bennaskar the merchant, and not 
 a magician, there had been no need of two different 
 accounts of yourself.' 
 
 The people, hearing this distinction of the 
 cadi, applauded their judge ; and one and all cried 
 out, that I was a magician, and deserved the 
 flames. 
 
 The guards where then ordered to bind me on 
 the pile, and I was led up and fixed to a post by 
 the chains which had been fastened on my body 
 the day before : and now, amidst the acclamations 
 of the people, was the pile kindled, and the smoke 
 and the flame surrounded the unfortunate Mahoud. 
 
 In a moment the crowd and the heavens disap- 
 peared from my sight, and I found myself in the 
 body of a toad, at the bottom of the pile. I 
 hopped forward out of the flames, and with diffi- 
 culty hid myself beneath a stone in the street. 
 
 The crowd, having waited till the pile was con- 
 sumed, carried the ashes out of the city, and scat- 
 tered them in the air ; and I remained till night 
 beneath the stone. 
 
 It was my intention, as soon as it was dark, to 
 creep out of the city into the woods; but sleep 
 overtook me at the time when animals retire to 
 their rest : and when I awaked in the morning, I 
 found myself in this forest ; where I remained, 
 during the space of a moon, alone, till these two, 
 the miserable companions of my solitude, were 
 joined unto me. 
 
 ' Your adventures, O Mahoud,' said the Sultan 
 of India, ' are wonderful, and an excellent lesson 
 of caution and prudence to us who are joined in 
 one common fate: and since I perceive both your 
 misfortune and my own have been brought about 
 by our want of trust and prudence, I shall, with 
 the utmost resignation, acknowledge, that the all-
 
 208 THE EXCHANTEKS; OR, 
 
 perfect Alia is ever willing to assist those who are 
 not wanting to themselves. 
 
 ' But, O Mahoud, suffer me, ere I declare my 
 own griefs, to ask what is become of the lovely 
 Hemjunah, the Princess of Cassimir j nor wonder 
 at my solicitude, for the mention of her name 
 brings to my memory the ideas of the past. How 
 was it possible, that the lovely fair one should be 
 betrayed into the power of those wicked en- 
 chanters ! But why should I be surprised at her 
 weakness, who am myself the object of their 
 malice? — Surely,' continued the Sultan, ' this our 
 companion, whom you called princess, cannot be 
 the daughter of Zebeuezer, the Sultan of Cas- 
 simir?' 
 
 'You are right, indeed, in your conjectures,' 
 answered Mahoud : ' the Princess of Cassimir is a 
 fellow-sufferer with us : and he who is on my right 
 hand, is Horam, the favourite of Misnar, the Lord 
 of Delhi.' 
 
 As Mahoud uttered these words, a dervise, worn 
 with age, and bowed down by the years of infirmity, 
 apjjeared among the thickets of the forest. 
 
 Horam immediately recollected the features of 
 the good old saint, and said : ' My royal master, 
 yonder is Shemshelnar, the most pious worshipper 
 of Alia among all the sons of Asia.' 
 
 ' I do not recollect his features,' answered Mis- 
 nar : ' came he not to the council of our divan ?' 
 
 * No, my royal lord,' said Horam, ' the oppres- 
 sions of age were upon him.' 
 
 By this time Shemshelnar arrived at the place 
 where the transformed company were seated ; and, 
 falling prostrate before Misnar, he said : — 
 
 ' Wonder not, O Prince of India, that Shemshel- 
 nar, thy slave, doth thus acknowledge his Prince, 
 though deformed by the enchantments of the wicked.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 209 
 
 — Yes, Prince,' continued Sliemshelnar, *I knew 
 the evils that surrounded thee ; and although I was 
 unable to attend thy council, yet I prayed in secret 
 to HIM who bestoweth at the noon-day, that he 
 would avert from my royal master the misfortunes 
 which threatened to overpower him. Alia heard 
 my prayer, as I lay prostrate in my cell ; and the 
 Genius Bahoudi appearing, commanded me to seek 
 thee in the forest of Tarapajan, whither thy way- 
 ward fortune should lead thee.' 
 
 As Shemshelnar finished these words, Misnar 
 arose in his just ])roportion : but, ere he spake to 
 the hol> dervise who had released him, he fell pro- 
 strate, and adored the goodness of Alia, and of Ma- 
 homet his prophet, who had thus rescued bin. from 
 the power of Ulin. Then, rising, he took Shem- 
 shelnar by the hand, and thanked him for hw re- 
 lease and advice. 
 
 ' Thou hast done ritrht, O Misnar,' said the der- 
 vise, ' to give the greatest honour to Alia : for to 
 Him alone belongs all honour ; and Shemshelnar 
 is the slave of Mahomet, thy prophet.' 
 
 ' And what !' continued the Sultan, ' must I not 
 hope that it will please the great Prophet of the 
 faithful to release also these my fellow-sufferers V 
 
 ' Misnar alone can release them,' answered the 
 dervise.— * Let Ulin perish, and these unfortunate 
 persons shall be restored to thee and themselves : 
 but in the mean time they must learn to bear their 
 misfortunes with patience, and offer their prayers 
 for thy safety. The road to Delhi is through this 
 desert forest, and to the left is situated the palace 
 of Uiin. She is already acquainted with thy trans- 
 formation, and is studying to deceive thee a second 
 time: but beware, O Misnar! for if she prevail, 
 death and destruction await thee.' 
 
 Misnar, having received the instructions of the 
 P
 
 •210 THE ENCHANTERS j OR, 
 
 dervise, took leave of his companions ; assuring 
 tliem he wis desirous of meeting the crafty Ulin as 
 soon as possible, that he might either give up all 
 pretensions to his kingdom, or deliver his subjects 
 and his friends from the hands of the enchantress. 
 The Sultan of the Indies, having left the dervise 
 imd his friends, advanced into the forest, chewing 
 some leaves which Shemshelnar had given him to 
 support him till he should arrive at his palace. 
 He had not advanced more than two days' journey 
 in the forest, before he heard the violent shrieks 
 of a distressed woman ; and at a distance saw 
 four ruffians stripping a lady, and beating her in- 
 humanly. 
 
 Misnar was enraged at what he saw, and, flying 
 to the lady's assistance, he bade the ruffians defend 
 themselves. The ruffians, leaving the lady, chose 
 not to encounter the arm of Misnar, but fled ; and 
 the Prince, stepping up to the lady, desired to 
 know by what accident she fell thus alone into the 
 hands of the robbers ? 
 
 ' O, noble sir,' said the lady, in tears, ' for I per- 
 ceive by your mien I speak to no common friend, 
 it was my fate to be beloved by the handsomest of 
 the sons of the faithful. I lived in Delhi, the 
 daughter of an emir ; and Hazar, the captain of a 
 thousand in the armies of Misnar, the Sultan of the 
 East, was my admirer : but, alas ! his love has 
 proved my destruction. The second son of the 
 {Treat Dabulcombar, being assisted by Ulin the en- 
 chantress, aspired to his brother's throne 3 and the 
 soldiers, who loved the hazardous chance of war, 
 deserted frequently from Misnar our Sultan : among 
 tlie rest, Hazar, in spite of my utmost endeavours, 
 revolted with his thousand men. 
 
 * * There is no preferment,' said he, ' in the 
 peaceful reign of Misnar : I will follow the fortunes
 
 MTSNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 211 
 
 of his brother, whose throne must be gained and 
 supported by arms.' 
 
 ' In vain I remonstrated, and urged both love 
 and duty. 
 
 ' ' My love/ said Hazar, ' is still unalterable : 
 thou wilt soon see me return the favourite of the 
 new monarch ; and it will then be in my power to 
 raise thee to higher dignities than those which thy 
 father now possesses.' 
 
 * Hazar then left me by night; and soon I heard 
 that he had joined the rebel army : but, O generous 
 stranger ! what was my grief, when I understood 
 that Ulin, the detestable enchantress, was stricken 
 with his appearance, and had invited him to her 
 bed ! 1 set out without delay for the camp, and, 
 studying to avoid the army of Misnar, travelled 
 through this wood with four attendants ; — but, ere 
 the second day of my journey was past, I was seized 
 by two satyrs of the wood_, and my retinue was left 
 behind me. 
 
 ' The satyrs hurried me along till the night over- 
 shadowed us, and then brought me, through many 
 dark and intricate windings, to a palace wliich was 
 illuminated with ten thousand lamps. — ' Now,' said 
 they, 'aspiring mistress of Hazar! enttr, and be- 
 hold thy paramour.' 
 
 ' Immediately I was led into a magnificent hall, 
 and from that into a second ; where, on a throne of 
 silver, sat Hazar, the perfidous Hazar, with the 
 hideous Ulin by his side. 
 
 ' My rage was so great, that I forgot my situa- 
 tion ; and calling aloud, I said : — ' O cursed Hazar, 
 thou rebel both to love and duty ! canst thou prefer 
 that detested wretch to these arms, which have re- 
 ceived thee and thy plighted faith?' 
 
 * Ulin, hearing my rage, burst into a loud fit of 
 laughing. ' It is well done, O sweet mistress of
 
 212 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 Hazar,' said she ; * I sent for you to divert me, and 
 you well answer my expectation ' the possession of 
 this lovely youth were notliing, was not I assured 
 that he preferred my substantial pleasures to your 
 empty and imaginary joys : yes, sweet creature,' 
 continued she, ' satiate thine eyes with the lovely 
 prospect of him you so much admire.' So saying, 
 the ugly wretch tluew her arms round Hazar ; and. 
 that deceitful and dishonourable rebel returned her 
 caresses. 
 
 ' This cruel treatment made me swoon. When 
 I recovered, I found myself alone in a filthy apart- 
 ment ; where, I suppose, I had been ordered, by the 
 cruel enchantress. 
 
 ' The next day I was dragged into the same hail, 
 to hear the taunts of the enchantress, and to see the 
 most faithless of a faithless sex. 
 
 ' Being desirous of knowing by what method I 
 was conveyed away, I pretended again to swoon, 
 and fell again on the ground ; when Ulin com- 
 manded that none should approach to recover me. 
 — * Let her continue thei-e,' said the enchantress^ 
 * till my lovely Hazar and I quit the hall ; and then 
 drag her into the mean apartments which are be- 
 neath the palace.' 
 
 ' Still feigning my swoon, the slaves, soon after 
 Ulin and Hazar were depaited,drew me forth, and 
 casting me into my hole, left me to my fate. 
 
 ' As soon as they were gone, I endeavoured to 
 find out some passage that might lead to daylight ; 
 and after much trouble and fear, and passing through 
 several dark entries, I arrived at the foot of a stair- 
 case, which led up into a yard belonging to the pa- 
 lace. On the top of this staircase I sat till night ; 
 and then ventured forth, resolvkig rather to die 
 than continue in that detested place. 
 
 ' Having crossed the yard, I this moining came
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 213 
 
 to a deep ditch, or canal, which I perceived wound 
 round the palace ; and I make no doubt but that 
 all access or recess from this palace must be over 
 a bridge which was guarded, as I perceived when I 
 was led by the satyrs of the wood. 
 
 ' As I had learned to swim in the women's baths 
 which were in my father's palace, I resolved rather 
 to run the risk of my life, than to be kept a prisoner 
 in Ulin's palace 3 and therefore boldly threw myself 
 into the canal ; and, fear giving me strength, I 
 crossed the water in a short time. 
 
 * Being now arrived at the farthest side, I struck 
 into the thickest part of the forest, and wandered 
 about for some time till morning ; when on a sud- 
 den 1 heard several voices among the trees. In an 
 instant four ruffians surrounded me, and, had not 
 your powerful arm interposed, I had suffered the 
 vilest of deaths, or what is worse than death itself.' 
 
 Misnar endeavoured to comfort the afflicted 
 stranger; and asked her whether she thought it 
 possible for any man to enter the palace of Ulin 
 undiscovered ? 
 
 * If,' answered she, ' I was able to get out with- 
 out molestation, doubtless the same method will 
 give you an opportunity of entering it.' 
 
 The Sultan Misnar seemed in doubt as she spoke. 
 
 ' O Sultan,' said she, ' let me prevail upon you 
 to follow me ; and I will ensure your success.' 
 
 Misnar, recovering from his musing posture, be- 
 sought her to walk before, and shew him the patli ' 
 which led to the palace. 
 
 ' We shall reach it by night,' said the stranger, 
 ' when the darkness shall protect thee.' 
 
 The beautiful stranger then went forward, and 
 Misnar followed at her heels. 
 
 Ere they had proceeded twenty paces, Misnar 
 said : — ' It will be proper, O fair stranger, to drmv
 
 214 THB UNCHAN'TERS ; OR, 
 
 my scimitar, lest we be suddenly set upon by the 
 robbers.' 
 
 * You are right,' answered the fair stranger ; 
 * and your precaution is just.' 
 
 The Sultan Misnar, having drawn his sabre, fol- 
 lowed close behind the beautiful stranger, and sud- 
 denly with a blow smote her on the shoulders, and 
 felled her to the ground. 
 
 The fair stranger was no sooner fallen, than her 
 countenance changed ; her soft, plump cheeks fell 
 in two bags from the bones ; the forehead and the 
 temples were contracted with wrinkles, and the 
 jaws, parting as with age and infirmity, discovered 
 to Misnar the featuresof the malicious enchantress 
 Ulin ; wlio, though nearly spent and exhausted by 
 the blow, yet lived to utter the following impre- 
 cations : — 
 
 ' May the curse of our sex light upon thee, thou 
 traitor to manhood ! since neither the charms nor 
 the afflictions of the fair have been able to soften 
 thine heart. Thou hast, indeed, avoided my snares, 
 by doing violence to the noblest of passions, and by 
 trampling on the most sacred laws of humanity and 
 hospitality. Idiot that I was, totrustmyselfto thee, 
 though guarded by the strongest appearances of in- 
 nocence and distress ! The injured and the helpless 
 can find no protection in thy government, though 
 thou boastest thyself the delegate of Alia, and the 
 friend of the oppressed ; and I, trusting to thy 
 specious virtues, am fallen a sacrifice to thy deceit- 
 ful heart. Since Alia is the guardian of such hy- 
 pocrisy, I now disclaim his authority as much upon 
 principle, as heretofore I have braved his vengeance, 
 that I might live free from his laws.' 
 
 ' Hold, O wretched instrument of sin,' said Mis- 
 nar j ' and, ere thou quittest that mortal seat of wick- 
 edness, hear Him justified whom thou deniest, anc
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 215 
 
 understand liow thine own arts were discovered to 
 me.— That four ruffians should quit their prey at 
 the sight of one man, did first stagger my credulity, 
 and 1 expected at least to find them return, and re- 
 venge my interposition : but when no one appeared 
 to interrupt my security, I then began most to fear, 
 and listen to thy tale, as one who expected to be en- 
 snared by the wiles of thy hypocrisy. Thy t«le, 
 though artful, did happily contradict itself. Thy 
 dishevelled garments were disposed in such an art- 
 ful manner, as to excite desire rather than shame ; 
 they were also dry and clean, and contradicted your 
 words, when you pretended you had swum across 
 the canal. This strengthened my doubts, which you 
 at length confirmed, by calling me, at the latter pait 
 of your history, Sultan. Then fled my doubt, and 
 certainty succeeded : I feared to follow, and yet 
 resolved to revenge ; and Alia, in mercy, gave suc- 
 cess to my arm — ' Here Misnar broke off; for 
 her iniquitous spirit was fled from the body of Ulin, 
 and the Sultan left her mangled and deformed 
 corpse a prey to the beasts of the forest. 
 
 He travelled for several daj s backward, hoping to 
 find the former companions of his misery ; and at 
 last came to the place which he had left, but could 
 find no signs of them : wherefore, concluding that 
 their enchantment was broken at the death of Ulin , 
 the Sultan returned towards Delhi, subsisting on 
 the leaves which the Dervise had given him, and on 
 |the fruits of the earth ; and in twelve days' time ar- 
 rived at a small town in his own dominions. 
 , The Sultan entered a caravanserah, where he 
 ifound several merchants : he asked them how they 
 dared venture to trade, when the armies of the 
 ^rebels were spread over the face of India ? 
 1 * As to that,' answered the first merchant, ' wc 
 have lived here some time, in expectation that one
 
 216 THE ENCHANTERS; OR, 
 
 party or the other would prevail. It little matters 
 tous which, provided trade was encouraged. As to 
 the Sultan's party, there was not, till within these 
 few days, any hope of their success. The young 
 man himself lias retired from his throne, being 
 fearful of encountering his enemies ; and the cap- 
 tains of the army had destroyed the prime vizier 
 Horam.' 
 
 ' And what,' interrupted Misnar, * is the cause 
 of this change in favour of the Sultan V 
 
 * Ten days since,' answered the merchant, ' con- 
 trary to every one's belief, as we all thought him 
 dead, the vizier Horam appeared at the head of the 
 army, and assured his officers that his Lord Misnar 
 was living, and had destroyed the enchantress Ulin, 
 who espoused the cause of his brother Ahubal; 
 that, in consquence of Ulin's death, Ahubal was 
 fled, and his army dispersed ; and he expected his 
 royal master would shortly appear among them.' 
 
 The Sultan Misnar was rejoiced at this news, and 
 without delay hastened to the palace of his Vizier. 
 
 The slaves of Horam, seeing the disguised Sultan, 
 asked him his business. 
 
 ' I come,' replied Misnar, ' to communicate to 
 thy lord tidings of our Sultan.' 
 
 At this word, the slaves of Horam conducted 
 Misnar to their master's presence; and Horam no 
 sooner saw his master in the disguise with which 
 he furnished him, than he fell at the Sultan's feet, 
 and congratulated him on his safe return. 
 
 * My faithful Horam,' said Misnar, ' arise — The 
 day is not yet so fiir spent, but that my court may 
 be assembled. Give orders, O Horam, that the 
 army be drawn up, and let thy slaves proceed to 
 the palace, and bring the imperial robes : my people 
 require my presence, and Misnar yearns to see the 
 supporters of bis throne.'
 
 MIRNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 217 
 
 Horam arose, and the Sultan, embracing him, 
 bald : 
 
 ^ O Horam, I am desirous of hearing the parti- 
 culars of thy fate ; but public advantage must not 
 yield to private friendship.' 
 
 The faithful Horam then hastened to call toge- 
 ther the princes and the viziers of the court of 
 Delhi, and gave orders that the array should be 
 drawn up in the royal square before the divan. 
 
 The Sultan Misnar, being arrayed in his imperial 
 robes, delayed not to shew himself to his people : and 
 no sooner did he appear, than his subjects cried 
 out, ' Long live the Sultan of our hearts, who alone 
 was able to conquer the power of enchantment !' 
 
 The Sultan was overjoyed to tind his people re- 
 ceived him with gladness, and commanded money 
 to be thrown among the populace, and double sub- 
 sistence to be issued out to his army. The viziers 
 and officers of justice being assembled in the divan, 
 waited the arrival of their Sultan ; and Misnar, 
 having ascended his throne, commanded Horam to 
 deliver to him a faithful account of his enemies. 
 
 Horam the vizier then arose from his seat, and 
 assured the Sultan that the rebel army was disper- 
 sed, and that Ahubal had fled with a few friends to 
 the shores of the Indian ocean. 
 
 The Sultan, on this report, commanded his army 
 to be stationed at just intervals, about a day's jour- 
 ney around the city of Delhi, and their numbers to 
 be reduced ; and that peace should be proclaimed 
 the next day in the city. 
 
 No sooner were the viziers dismissed from the 
 divan, than Misnar, retiring into his palace, sent 
 for his faithful vizier Horam, and desired him to 
 give him a true relation of what had happened to 
 liim since his departure from the army. 
 
 ' Royal sir,' answered Horam, ' you were no
 
 218 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 sooner departerl, than I began to inspect the order 
 and the discipline of your troops ; to look into the 
 methods of providing for the army, and to appoint 
 proper officers, who should take care that the 
 soldiers had sufficient and wholesome provision ; 
 that their tents were good; that the situations of 
 the different battalions were in healthy places, near 
 springs and rivers, but ou dry soils, and as far as 
 possible removed from swampy fens, or the stag- 
 nated air of the forests. 
 
 * During this time little occurred of which I could 
 inform my Lord, as I meant not to trouble you 
 with my own concerns ; lest it should seem that 
 I was proud of the trifling dispositions which I 
 had made in favour of the army. 
 
 ' The rebels in the mean time were quiet, and 
 their distance only prevented me from destroying 
 them. : but, on a sudden, a messenger arrived, with 
 tidings that all the Southern provinces had revolt- 
 ed ; that the enchantress Ulin was with them, and 
 conducted their forces; that Ahubal was declared 
 Sultan of India by her ; and that she was deter- 
 mined to support his cause. Upon this I took such 
 precautions as, doubtless, my Sultan must have 
 read in the tablets : but my precautions seemed 
 vain ; for, the next night, we were on a sudden 
 terrified with a second alarm, that the rebels were 
 within half a day's march of our camp; which I 
 thought, considering their former distance, must 
 be the effect of enchantment. 
 
 'This threw our officers into the greatest con- 
 sternation, who, collecting themselves in a body, 
 came rushing toward the royal tent, and demanded 
 a sight of the Sultan ; and declared their resolu- 
 tion of revolting to the enemy, unless you headed 
 the troops. 
 
 ' I was writing despatches in the royal tent, when
 
 MISXAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 219 
 
 I heard their tumult, and my heart fled as they ap- 
 proached: but as they stopped for sometime to 
 fix upon one for their speaker, I had just time to 
 slip on a slave's habit, and cut my way through 
 the back side of the tent. 
 
 ' I ran as swiftly as my feet could carry me out 
 of the encampment; and being stopped by several 
 sentinels, I told them I was despatched by tha 
 Vizier, and showed them mine own signet. — ' But, 
 alas ! when 1 essayed to return, I found my foet 
 fixed to the ground ; and in a moment the earth 
 trembled, and Ulin the enchantress arose, on the 
 back of an enormous toad. 
 
 ' Ulin then waved her hand, and sleep over- 
 powered me ; and, when I awaked, I found mysel. 
 between the merchant of Delhi, and the Princess 
 of Cassimir ; who, like me, had felt the vengeance 
 of Ulin the enchantress. 
 
 ' It was some consolation to us, that our speech 
 was not taken from us, but that we were able to 
 communicate to each other our misfortunes. 
 
 ' Two days after you left us with Shemshelnar, 
 who endeavoured to comfort our afflictions, on a 
 sudden we perceived a vivid flash of lishtning, 
 which was succeeded by a violent clap of thunder ; 
 and vi^hile vi'e were looking at each other, the wood 
 instantly vanished, and I found myself in my pa- 
 lace at Delhi. What became of Mahoud, or the 
 Princess of Cassimir, I know not : but I was sensible 
 that my prince had conquered the enchantress, who 
 had laid such hateful chains upon us. 
 
 ' I hastened to the divan of viziers and emirs ; 
 who were astonished at my presence. They were 
 met in order to appoint a Sultan, having just heard 
 from the army, that both the Sultan and his Vi- 
 zier were fled from tlie encampments. A friend of 
 Ahubal's h;id proposed that priace to succeed my
 
 220 THE ENCHANTERS J OR, 
 
 royal master ; and orders were given to proclaim 
 him, wMen I arrived in the divan. 
 
 ' Being acquainted with the resolutions of the 
 viziers and emirs, I proclaimed aloud, that my 
 royal master Misnar was alive, and that he had de- 
 stroyed the enchantress Ulin, who had espoused 
 the cause of Ahubal. 
 
 • At this declaration, the viziers and emirs pro- 
 strated themselves, and gave thanks to Alia ; and 
 the trumpets and the cornets went through the 
 streets of Delhi, and proclaimed my arrival, and 
 the victory of Misnar their Sultan over the en- 
 chantress Ulin.' 
 
 Early in the morning, several messengers arrived 
 with the news of the death of Ulin, and the revolt 
 often provinces from Ahubal; and, soon after, the 
 provinces sent deputies to excuse their rebellion, 
 and to beseech the Sultan to pardon their offences. 
 Misnar yielded to their prayers, but ordered some 
 of the most faithful of his troops to march into 
 their borders, and to encamp among them. 
 
 Ahubal, though deserted by the provinces, was 
 yet espoused by the magician Happuck, who, hear- 
 ing of the defeat of his sister Ulin, was resolved to 
 avenge the cause of that detested race. 
 
 Though Happuck had been employed nearly a 
 year in raising commotions among the subjects ot 
 India, two provinces only owned the government 
 of Ahubal ; the rest continued firm in their loyalty 
 to the Sultan Misnar. 
 
 These provinces had raised a light army of about 
 forty thousand men, who, by forced marches, ha- 
 rassed the neighbouring provinces around them. 
 
 Of these, three thousand horsemen parted sud- 
 denly from the rest, and, by following unfrequented 
 tracks over the mountains and through the forests, 
 arrived at length within two days' march of Delhi.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 221 
 
 Here, pitching their tents, they sent several of 
 their chief officers to Delhi, to assure the Sultan 
 that they were greatly afflicted at their crimes, and 
 were desirous of laying down their rebellious arms 
 at his feet. 
 
 Horam the vizier received these suppliants ; 
 and, representing their contrition to the Sultan, he 
 commanded them to join the main drmy ; at the 
 same time sending despatches to his general to 
 dismount them from their horses, and to encamp 
 them in such a situation, that they might not be 
 able either to escape, or to annoy his army, if they 
 should be disposed to revolt again. 
 
 The magician Happuck, who was among the of- 
 ficers that appeared at Delhi, and who had con- 
 trived the revolt in order to get into the presence 
 of the Sultan, was greatly chagrined to find that the 
 vizier Horam received him, and that he was not to 
 be admitted into Misnar's presence : but,concealing 
 his disappointment, he, with the rest, joined the 
 three thousand horsemen, and marched to the 
 gi'and army of Mlsnar. 
 
 Once a year the whole army was reviewed by the 
 Sultan in person ; and it happened that the dis- 
 guised magician, and his troops of horsemen, ar- 
 rived at the army three days before this general 
 review. 
 
 The magician was rejoiced at this fortunate 
 event. 
 
 * Ibrac,' said he to the officer who commanded 
 his troop, ' fortune has now given me an opportu- 
 nity of revenging the death of my sister Ulin : this 
 disguise of an officer is not sufficient ; I will de- 
 scend to the meanest rank, where I shall be less 
 suspected : and as the Sultan Misnar passes between 
 the ranks where I am situated, I will draw my bow
 
 222 THE EXCHAXTERS ; OR, 
 
 and pierce him to the heart : having done this, I 
 shall render myself Invisible ; and do you, in the 
 general consternation, proclaim Ahubul the Sultan 
 of India.' 
 
 Ibrac furnished the maj^ician with the clothipg 
 of one of the common soldiers; and he was mus- 
 tered with the rest of the troops. 
 
 Early in the morning in which Misnar was to re- 
 view his troops, the Sultan arose, and bade his 
 slaves, who waited in the pavilion, to call his vizier 
 Horam to him. 
 
 ' Horam,' said the Sultan, ' I suspect the crafty 
 magician Happuck ; he is doubtless here disguised 
 in our camp ; and if I expose myself to day, it may 
 be in his power to set the crown of India on my 
 brother's head. 
 
 ' Bring me two hundred of the most expert 
 archers in my army, and take them from those 
 troops who are the farthest from the deserters who 
 lately joined the array.' 
 
 The Vizier did as the Sultan commanded ; and 
 brought the archers before the royal pavilion. 
 
 'Go now, Horam,' said the Sultan, 'and order 
 all the troops to be drawn out on the plain. Then 
 take these archers, and place one at each extre- 
 mity of the ranks, an archer on the right of each 
 rank : but, before you station them thus, give them 
 the following orders: Be ready with your bows 
 drawn, and your arrows fixed to the bow-string : 
 and whenever the word of command is given for 
 lill the army to fall prostrate, let your arrows fly 
 at the man who is last to obey the word of com- 
 mand.' 
 
 The troops being all drawn forth in their ranks, 
 and the archers disposed according to the Sultan's 
 orders, the Sultan Misnar came forth, attended by
 
 MISNAK, SULTAN OF INDIA. 223 
 
 his eunuchs, viziers, emirs, and guards. The loud 
 clarions sounded, the lively notes of the trumpets 
 were heard, and the brazen cymbals shook the 
 trembling air. 
 
 Tiie magician, who was impatient to perpetrate 
 the malicious purposes of his heart, was elated at 
 the warlike sound; and he beheld the Sultan's 
 retinue at a distance, with such joy as the eagle 
 views the flocks of sheep on the plains of Homah. 
 
 The Sultan being arrived at the front of his 
 army, which he knew was composed of his most 
 faithful troops, commanded silence throughout 
 the plain. 
 
 ' My brave soldiers,' said he, ' although no care 
 nor resolution has been wanting on your parts to 
 extirpate the rebellion of my provinces; yet to 
 Alia only, and to Mahomet his prophet, belong the 
 glory and the honour of your arms : wherefore let 
 immediate orders be issued forth among my troops, 
 that all do together fall prostrate on the ground be- 
 fore the all-seeing Alia, the Governor of the world 
 and the Disposer of kingdoms and of crowns.' 
 
 As this order went forth through the ranks, the 
 soldiers at once fell prostrate before Alia, all but 
 the magician Happuck, who was surprised and 
 astonished at the order, and irresolute what to do. 
 But little time was given him to think ; for no 
 sooner were his fellow-soldiers fallen prostrate on 
 each side of him, than the arrows of the archers 
 pierced his heart. 
 
 The magician, finding himself overpowered, and 
 that the messengers of death had seized him, raised 
 his voice aloud, and, with what little strength was 
 left, cursed both Alia and his prophet ; but the 
 stream of life flowed swiftly from hiru, and his 
 curses grew fainter and fainter, till they were lost 
 iu death.
 
 224 TITii, E.SCHAMi:-rt»3 \JU, 
 
 Those who were acquainted with the designs >.. 
 Happuck, perceiving that the magician was dead, 
 and their plot discovered, began to fly : and first, 
 Ibrac essayed to head his discarded troops ; but 
 tliey, not being used to march on foot, soon fell 
 into confusion, and, the forces of the Sultan sur- 
 rounding them, they were instantly destroyed. 
 
 The Sultan Misnar saw, by the confusion of his 
 army in the centre, that the discovery was made; 
 and sent Horam, with some chosen troops, to in- 
 quire into the cause of their disorder. 
 
 The Vizier was no sooner arrived, than he per- 
 ceived several soldiers bringing along the body of 
 the magician Happuck, which appeared undisguised 
 after death. 
 
 In the meantime, two only of the troops of Jbrac 
 and Happuck escaped ; and, returning to Ahubal, 
 acquainted him with their defeat. 
 
 Ahubal fled at the news, and hid himself in the 
 mountains ; for he feared lest his soldiers should 
 betray him, and deliver him up to his brother. 
 
 But Ollomand the enchanter, who first counselled 
 the Sultan of India to secure his throne by spilling 
 the innocent blood of his brother, now resolved to 
 revenge the common cause: he therefore directed 
 the steps of Ahubal to a cave in the mountains, 
 where, fatigued with flight, and fearful of pursuit, 
 the royal rebel arrived in the heat of the day. 
 
 The cave was, for the most part, surrounded by 
 steep mountains, and at a great distance from any 
 track or path, and was situated at the entrance of 
 a long valley, which led among the mountains. 
 
 Ahubal, having slept and refreshed himself in the 
 cave, pursued his journey through the valley, till 
 he found his path stopped by inaccessible rocks, on 
 the top of which he perceived a magnificent castlo, 
 whose walls reflected the rays of the sun like bur- 
 nished gold.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 225 
 
 The brother of Misnar fixed his eye for some 
 time on that part of the castle which was shaded 
 by the rest, for the front was too dazzUng to be- 
 hold; and in a few moments he perceived a small 
 wicket open, and a dwarf come forth. 
 
 Ahubal soon lost sight of the dwarf behind the 
 rocks : but he resolved to wait there, to see whether 
 he could find any passage into the valley. 
 
 The dwarf, after being hid for some time, ap- 
 peared again about the middle of the rocks, and by 
 his course seemed to descend in a spiral path 
 around the mountain. 
 
 When the dwarf had reached the bottom, he ad- 
 vanced to Ahubal, and, presenting him with a clue, 
 he told him, that if he threw it before him, and fol- 
 lowed it, the clue would unravel itself, and discover 
 to him the path which led up the rocks to the castle 
 of Ollomand, his master. 
 
 Ahubal, having heard from Ulin and Happuck, 
 that Ollomand was his friend, took the clue out of 
 the hand of the dwarf, and threw it before him. 
 
 As the clue rolled onward, and touched the rocks, 
 Ahubal discovered a regular ascent, which, winding 
 round, brought him by degrees to the castle on the 
 summit of the mountain. 
 
 The enchanter Ollomand received Ahubal at the 
 entrance of the castle, which was guarded by four 
 dragons, and led him through a large couit into a 
 spacious hall, the walls of whicii were lined witii 
 human bones that had been whitened in the sun. 
 
 ' Favourite of the race of the powerful,' s;iid Ol- 
 lomand, ' see here the bones of those who have 
 lifted up their arms against thee ; and I will add to 
 their number till this castle be filled.' 
 
 Ahubal was encouraged by the words of Ollo- 
 mand ; and the enchanter, having opened his de- 
 sign to the prince, invited liim to behold the liclios 
 of liis castlo. Q
 
 226 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 Passingthroushthehallof bones, they descended 
 into a square court, much more spacious than the 
 former; in the middle of which appeared a deep 
 and dark pit. This court contained four hundred 
 gates of massy brass, and each gate was supported 
 by nine enormous hinges of the same metal. 
 
 As Ollomand the enchanter entered this court, 
 with the prince Ahubal in his hand, he lifted up 
 his voice, which eclioed like thunder amidst the 
 lofty turrets of the castle, and commanded his 
 slaves to expose to the sight of Ahubal the trea- 
 sures of their master. 
 
 The prince Ahubal, who had seen no creature 
 but the dwarf and the enchanter in the castle, 
 wondered whence tlie slaves should come : but his 
 wonder was shortly turned into fear, when he be- 
 held a gigantic black, with a club of ebony forty 
 feet in length, arise out of the pit, which was in 
 the centre of the court. 
 
 But if one was so terrifying, his horrors were be- 
 yond measure increased, when he perceived a long 
 succession of the same gigantic monsters, following 
 one another out of the pit, and advancing to the 
 four hundred brazen gates, till every gate had a 
 slave standing before it. 
 
 When Ollomand saw his slaves were all pre- 
 pared before the gates, he bade them strike with 
 their clubs of ebony against them. 
 
 The black slaves, in obedience to the enchanter's 
 orders, lifted up their ponderous clubs of ebony, 
 and struck against the four hundred gates, which 
 jarred so much with the blows of the slaves, that 
 Ahubal was forced to stop his ears, and was ready 
 to sink into the earth with astonishment and dread. 
 As soon as the black slaves of Ollomand had 
 struck the four hundred gates of brass, the gates 
 began to move, and the harsh creaking of the
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 227 
 
 hinges sent forth a noise, wliich alone had chilled 
 the hearts of all the armies of Misnar, could 
 they have heard thena. 
 
 This dismal and discordant jar continued till the 
 gates were forced open by the hideous slaves. But 
 the prince Ahubal was so stunned and stupified 
 with the piercing sound, that he dared not look up 
 till Ollomand the enchanter, shaking him by the 
 shoulders, bade him feast hia eyes with the riches 
 of his friend. 
 
 Ahubal then lifting up his head, looked around 
 the court, and saw the four hundred gates were 
 opened. In those to the right were millions of 
 wedges of gold and silver, piled beneath craggy 
 arches of huge unchiseled stone. Opposite to these, 
 he beheld a hundred vaulted roofs, under which 
 were sacks and bags of the gold and silver coin of 
 many nations. 
 
 Before him, another hundred gates exposed to 
 his view the arms and warlike accoutrements of 
 ten thousand nations, and all the instruments of 
 death which the inventive malice of man had ever 
 discovered. 
 
 Ollomand then stamped with his feet, and a 
 chariot drawn by four dragons, arose from the pit 
 in the centre of the court ; which Ahubal and the 
 enchanter ascended, and were conveyed in a dark 
 c!ou«l to the woods behind the city of Orixa. 
 
 When Ollomand's chariot alighted on the ground, 
 he touched the dragons with his wand, and they 
 became four camels laden with merchandize, and 
 the chariot was converti d into an elephant. Ahubal 
 became like a merchant, and the enchanter ap- 
 ])eared as a black slave. 
 
 They entered the town in the evening, and the 
 iioxt morning exposed their goods in the market- 
 place.
 
 228 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 The bales of Ahubal, the sham-merchant, beinrj 
 opened, were found to contain chiefly materials for 
 clothing the officers of tlie army. 
 
 The troops of Misnar hearing this, were his 
 chief customers : and as Ahubal sold his wares very 
 cheap, he soon got acquainted with all the officers 
 at Orixa. 
 
 In all his conversations with them, the enchanter 
 had directed Ahubal to lament the small salaries 
 which the army were allowed : this was a subject 
 all agreed in, and soon led to more lucrative oflEers, 
 if they would embrace the cause of Ahubal. The 
 officers, who were, for the most part, soldiers for 
 the sake of pay and plunder, rather than duty and 
 honour, soon came into the sham-merchant's pro- 
 posal ; and, in ten days, Ahubal found himself in 
 a condition to recover the province of Orixa. 
 
 The young prince, fired with his success, was 
 about to discover himself; but the enchanter 
 checked his ardour, and besought him to consider 
 how many more provinces must be gained before 
 he could make head against his brother. The ad- 
 vice of Ollomand prevailed with the prince; and 
 they sent some of those officers who were strongest 
 in their interest into the different provinces of the 
 South, to corrupt the minds of the commanders. 
 
 As there was no want of money and bribery, 
 80 an easier conquest was made over the loyalty of 
 the troops, than could have been made over their 
 I)rowess by swords. 
 
 On a fixed day, all the armies of the provinces 
 were in motion, and all unfurled the standard of 
 Ahubal; the provinces were invited to rebel, and 
 tliousands were daily added to the troops of the 
 prince. 
 
 Tidings of these alterations were sent to Delhi 
 by the few friends of the Sultan who remained in
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 'i-29 
 
 those parts ; and Horam the vizier laid before his 
 master the dreadful news of a general revolt, both 
 of his troops and provinces in the South. 
 
 ' The enemies of Misnar/ said the Sultan, as the 
 vizier Horam had ended his report, ' are many ; 
 and one only is his friend !' 
 
 Horam bowed low at his master's words. 
 
 'Faithful Horam,' said the Sultan, 'I honour 
 and esteem thee : but think not I prefer my Vizier 
 to my God : no, Horam, Alia alone is the friend 
 of Misnar; a friend more mighty than the armies 
 of Aluibal, or the sorceries of the enchanters.' 
 
 Misnar then assembled his troops ; and, putting 
 himself at their head, he marched, by easy marches, 
 toward the southern frontiers of his dominions. 
 
 The armies of Ahubal continued to increase, and 
 Cambaya acknowledged him for its Sultan. In a 
 short time he arrived with his forces at Narvar, 
 and encamped within seven leagues of the army of 
 Misnar the Sultan. 
 
 Ollomand marching by night, surprised all the 
 advanced guards of the Sultan, and possessed him- 
 self of the wood, before the sun could penetrate 
 through the branches of the forest of Narvar. 
 
 Misnar was soon apprised of the enchanter's 
 contrivance, and he ordered certain of his troops 
 to climb over the mountains to the right of the 
 wood, and, if possible, to gain the opposite side; 
 and there, in several parts, to set the woods on fire. 
 This was so successfully executed by the soldiers, 
 that, as soon as Ollomand was possessed of the 
 wood, he perceived it was on fire, and had made 
 a separation between him and the main army of 
 Ahubal. 
 
 In this distress, the enchanter resolved to dispose 
 nf his troops in the most advantageous manner, 
 [)roposing in his mind to secure his own retreat by
 
 230 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 the power of enchantment. But while the subtle 
 enchanter was directing his engineers to bring up 
 the fell engines of war, one of them being made 
 hot by the raging fires in the wood, discharged its 
 contents, which carried the head of Ollomand 
 toward the camp of the Sultan. 
 
 This occurrence threw the troops in the wood 
 into the utmost confusion, and many fled to the 
 Sultan's camp, declaring the loss of their leader ; 
 and the rest resolved rather to submit than perish 
 by the sword or by fire. 
 
 The flames of the wood, which arose between 
 the armies of Misnar and Ahubal, soon disturbfd 
 the peace of the rebel prince. At first, indeed, he 
 hoped Ollomand had enclosed his brother's troops, 
 and was consuming them by his fires. But no de- 
 spatch airiving from his friend, filled Ahubal with 
 just fears, which were greatly increased, as, in a 
 few days, the tire decreasing, and having opened a 
 passage through the wood, he was informed by his 
 spies, that the armies of Misnar were approaching. 
 
 The prince Ahubal, having lost his friend the 
 enclianter, was fearful of the event, and wished to 
 fly ; but his generals, being rebels, and fearing their 
 fate if they should be taken, resolved to conquer 
 or die ; and Ahubal was constrained against his 
 will to put his army in a state of defence. 
 
 The Sultan, supposing his brother's army would 
 be disheartened at the loss of the enchanter, was 
 studious of giving them battle before they had 
 recovered their consternation ; and therefore led on 
 his troops with great impetuosity toward the front 
 of the rebel army, while the vizier Horam, covered 
 by the main body of Misnar's army, endeavoured 
 to gain the right flank of the enemy. 
 
 The troops of the Sultan advanced with confi- 
 dence, and the rebellious supporters of Ahubal
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 231 
 
 rushed forward with resolute despair. But the 
 troops of Misnar were flushed with hope, and fear 
 and dismay were in the paths of Ahubal. The 
 prince himself, in confusion, sounded the retreat ; 
 and the backs of his troops were already exposed 
 to the darts of the Sultan ; — when the swarthy en- 
 chanter Tasnar appeared in the air, seated on a 
 rapacious vulture. 
 
 • Base cowards !' exclaimed he, as he hovered 
 aloft in the air, * turn, and fear not, while Tasnar 
 is your friend.' 
 
 The troops of Ahubal hearing these words, and 
 being encouraged by a sight so wonderful, for a time 
 stood still, irresolute what to do ; till Tasnar alight- 
 ing on the ground, and, seizing a javelin, bade 
 the brave support and defend the avenger of their 
 wrongs. 
 
 The Sultan's army, findingtheir enemies retreat, 
 had followed them in a tumultuous manner, and 
 were therefore less able to resist the enchanter Tas- 
 nar and those who supported him. And they had 
 experienced the truth of the enchanter's assertion, 
 had not the vizier Horam, perceiving their resist- 
 ance, hastened with a few chosen troops to tlie 
 rescue of his friends. 
 
 The battle, though not so general as before, was 
 yet much fiercer ; and Tasnar and Horam met face 
 to face. The Vizier aimed in vain his scimitar at 
 the head of the enchanter, and Tasnar found a su- 
 perior arm withhold him, when he attempted to 
 demolish the faithful Vizier. But this prevented 
 not the general slaughter that ensued ; till nisjlit, 
 which recruits the wasted strength of man, divided 
 the armies of Misnar and Ahubal. 
 
 After the retreat of the two contending armies, 
 the vizier Horam attended the Sultan in the royal 
 pavilion, and informed him of the descent of the 
 enchanter Ta8nar,vand his prowess in the field.
 
 232 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 ' .\la5l' answered Misnar, ' it is in vain, O Ho- 
 ram, that the sword is uplifted against the power of 
 enchantment, so long as these magicians are pre- 
 pared against our attacks ; we must surprise them, 
 or we cannot prevail. Tasnar is joined to my faith- 
 less brother Ahnbal : there is in my camp, doubtless, 
 some trusty slave, who, under the appearance of 
 betraying my cause, may penetrate into the camp 
 of Aliubal, and destroy this enchanter while he 
 sleeps in security : and Ho ram my \^izier mast find 
 that slave ere the sun beholds the blood of Asia, 
 which defiles the plains of my kingdom.' 
 
 Horam bowed, and went out of the presence of 
 the Sultan in great distress of heart. — ' Where,' 
 said he to himself, ' can the mighty find a trusty- 
 friend ? or what slave will be faithful to his master 
 tLat has robbed him of his liberty ? Better had I 
 perished by the hand of Tasnar, than be betrayed 
 through the wickedness of my servants I' 
 
 The Vizier, doubtful where to apply, or whom to 
 trust, returned to his tent; where he found an old 
 feniale slave, who waited to deliver a message from 
 his seraglio, which was kept in a tent adjoining to 
 his own. 
 
 Horam, not regarding her presence, threw him- 
 self on his sofa, and bemoaned his fate, in being 
 commanded to find a trusty slave. 
 
 The female slave, who saw her master's tears, 
 threw herself at his feet, and called Alia to witness 
 that she had alo-ays served him faithfully, and was 
 ready to sacrifice her life for his pleasure. 
 
 Horam was rather more distressed than alleviated 
 by her protestations. — ' What art thou,' said he to 
 her sternly, ' a poor decrepit woman I and canst 
 thou go forth and combat the enchantments of 
 Tasnar, the enemy of my master's peace V 
 
 'The locust and the worm/ said the female slave.
 
 MISXAR, SULTAN OP INDIA. 233 
 
 ' are the instruments of Alla's vengeance on the 
 mighty ones of the earth ; and Mahomet can make 
 even my weakness subservient to the cause of my 
 lord.' 
 
 * And how wilt thou prevail against Ahubal the 
 prince, and Tasnar the magician V said Horani; 
 careless of what he spoke. 
 
 ' I will go,' answered the female slave, ' into the 
 camp of Ahnbal ; and I will engage to poison my 
 master the Vizier, and Misnar, the lord of our lives, 
 as 1 stand before them to minister unto thera the 
 pleasing draught. And while Tasnar is intent in 
 hearing my proposals, the steel of death shall sud- 
 denly search out the vilt enchanter's heart.' 
 
 ' Butjknowest thou not,' said Horam,' that deatli 
 will be the consequence of this rash deed ?' 
 
 ' My lord,' answered the slave, ' I was, wlien 
 young, bred up in the caves of Denraddin, and was 
 Taught by a sage to know what should happen to me 
 in future times : and the sage read in the stars of 
 heaven, that by my means should the Sultan of 
 India be delivered from the enemy that oppressed 
 him.' 
 
 The Vizier was rejoiced at the assurance of his 
 female slave, and bade her prepare herself to ap- 
 pear before the Sultan. 
 
 The slave, putting on her veil, followed the vi- 
 zier Horam, and was introduced to the tent of 
 Misnar. 
 
 * What,' said the Sultan, as he saw his Vizier 
 enter with the female slave, ' what new kind of 
 warrior has Horam brought me V 
 
 ' Light of mine eyes !' answered the Vizier, ' be- 
 liold a woman who is desirous of executing thy 
 c.immands. This slave assures me, that the sages 
 of the caves of Denraddin have read in the stars 
 of heaven, that by her means the Sultan of India
 
 234 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 should be delivered from tlie enemy that oppressed 
 him.' 
 
 'Then,' said the Sultan, ' let her go ; and may 
 the Prophet of the faithful guide her footsteps ia 
 safety and security ! I am assured that Horam 
 would not consent to an enterprise that was foolish 
 and weak ; and to his direction I leave the fate of 
 this trusty female.' 
 
 The slave then fell prostrate, and besought the 
 Sultan to give her some of his writings and man- 
 dates, that she might pretend she had stolen them 
 from his tent, with a dosisrn to carry and lay them 
 at the feet of Tasnar and A bubal. 
 
 The Sultan approved of her scheme, and ordered 
 several mandates to be written and signed relative 
 to the motions of his army the next day, which 
 were quite contrary to the real disposition he in- 
 tended to give out. 
 
 The female slave being furnished with these, and 
 being conducted by the Vizier to the outskirts of 
 the Sultan's army, walked forward till she was 
 challenged by the sentinels of Ahubal, who seized 
 upon and carried her to their commander. 
 
 The commander, fearful of deceit, at first satis- 
 fied himself that she was really a female slave, and 
 then asked her what brought her alone out of the 
 camp of the Sultan? 
 
 ' Brins" me,' said she, ' before your prince ; for I 
 have things to deliver up to him that will be of 
 service to his army.' 
 
 The commander then sent her with the puard to 
 the pavilion of Ahubal, where that prince and the 
 enchanter Tasnar were consulting in private toge- 
 ther. 
 
 As soon as the female slave had gained admit- 
 tance, she fell prostiate at the feet of Ahubal; 
 which Tasnar observing, commanded the guards to
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 235 
 
 seize her. — ' Let us see,' said tlie enchanter, ' what 
 service tliis slave can do us, before she is trusted 
 so near our persons.' 
 
 The female slave, being secured by the guards, 
 was doubtful how to behave. 
 
 ' I like not that confusion,' said the enchanter ; 
 * have you, base slave, aught to reveal to us ? or 
 are you sent as a spy, to betray the counsels of the 
 brave V 
 
 ' I have,' said the female slave, (somewhat reco- 
 vered from her surprise,) ' papers and mandates 
 of great consequence, which I have stolen from the 
 tent of the Sultan ; and I bring them to the Prince 
 Ahubal, the lord of all the hearts of the Indian 
 empire.' 
 
 The slave then produced her mandates, and the 
 guards laid them at the feet of Abubal. 
 
 The prince Ahubal, having read the papers, gave 
 them to Tasnar, saying, — • These are indeed va- 
 luable acquisitions ; and the female slave that 
 brought them is worthy of high honour and reward.' 
 
 The slave, hearing this encomium, bowed down 
 her head; for the guards who held her prevented 
 her falling prostrate. 
 
 ' Mighty son of Dabulcombar,' said the enchan- 
 ter, ' let the guards carry her forth, till we consult 
 what reward she shall receive.' 
 
 As soon as the female slave was carried out : — 
 ' My prince,' said Tasnar, ' it is indeed politic to 
 confer rewards on those who serve us ; and there- 
 fore it is sometimes necessary to do it, that the silly 
 birds may be the better entangled in the snares of 
 state: but when we can better serve our ends by 
 their destruction tban by their safety, it is but just 
 that we should do it. This slave has already risked 
 her life for our service, and therefore she will 
 doubtless be ready to lay it down, if we require jt.'
 
 236 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 As the enchanter said this, he called one of the 
 guards, and commanded him to bring in the fe- 
 male slave and the bow-string. 
 
 The female slave approached, being still held by 
 the guards. 
 
 ' Kind slave/ said the enchanter, ' you have al- 
 ready served us much ; there is one thing more that 
 we require: let the slaves fit the bow-string to thy 
 ueiik, and let thy last breath be sent forth in praise 
 of thy lord Ahubal.' 
 
 The slaves of Ahubal then put upon the wretched 
 female the deadly bow-string, and strangled her in- 
 stantly. After whicli they retired, leaving the dead 
 body of the female slave on the floor of the tent. 
 
 ' What hast thou done, O Tasnar?' said Abuhal, 
 astonished at the deed. 
 
 ' 1 suspect,' said the enchanter, ' that this female 
 was sent on a vile errand : andsee here,' continued 
 he, searching her garments, * is the weapon of 
 death !' 
 
 So saying, he drew a dagger from her bosom, 
 which she had concealed with a design of stabbing 
 the enchanter. 
 
 ' Prudent Tasnar,' said the prince, ' I admire thy 
 foresight : but of what use is this murdered slave 
 now to us ?' 
 
 ' The disguise of this slave,' answered the en- 
 chanter, ' will introduce me into the camp of the 
 Sultan, and, I hope, will give me an opportunity of 
 reaching his heart with that steel which he design- 
 ed for mine. — Butno time must be lost ; the morn- 
 ingwill, erelo ng, disclose its grey light in the east.' 
 
 The enchanter then put on the garments of the 
 murdered female slave, and, stroking his face, it 
 became as her's ; so that Ahubal could scarcely 
 believe but the slave was revived. He cut off also 
 the head of the female slave, and, anointing it
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OP IXDIA. 237 
 
 with a white ointment, it became like his own. 
 Thus equipped, the commander of the advanced 
 guard conducted him to the foremost sentinels of 
 the rebel army. 
 
 The disi:uised enchanter soon reached the camp 
 of the Sultan ; and the sentinels, imagining it was 
 the same female slave whom Horam had led 
 through their ranks in the former part of the night, 
 suffered him to pass unexamined. 
 
 In a short time he reached the royal pavilion 
 and demanded admittance. The vizier Horam, 
 who was there in waiting, heard, as he supposed, 
 the voice of his female slave; and went out to bring 
 her before the Sultan. 
 
 * My slave,' said Horam, as he saw the disguised 
 enchanter, ' hast thou succeeded ; and is Tasnar, 
 the foe of the faithful, dead V 
 
 ' Bring me before the Sultan,' said the pretended 
 slave, ' that my lord may first behold the head of 
 his foe.' 
 
 The Vizier then led the disguised enchanter into 
 the pavilion, where the Sultan Misnar, being warned 
 of her approach, was seated on his thi'one. 
 
 As the enchanter approached,he held a dagger in 
 one hand, which was covered by a long sleeve, and 
 in the other he bore the fictitious head. — And now 
 the fictitious female was about to ascend the steps 
 of the til rone, when the Vizier commanded her 
 first to fall prostrate before the Sultan. 
 
 The sham female slave did as she was ordered, 
 and the Vizier, seeing her prostrate, fell upon her, 
 and slew her with his sabre. 
 
 * What hast thou done, wretched Vizier !' said 
 the Sultan ; ' hns envy thus rashly stirred thee up 
 against my faithful slave, that — V 
 
 The Sultan liad probably continued hii^ invective 
 against the Vizier much longer, had he not beheld
 
 238 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 the corse of the dead enchanter change its appear- 
 ance ; and found that Horam, by the sudden de- 
 truction of Tasnar, had but just preserved his own 
 life. 
 
 At the sight of this transformation, Misnar de- 
 scended from his throne, and closely embraced his 
 Vizier Horam. — ' Horam, forgive my impetuous 
 temper,' said the Sultan; ' how have I blamed my 
 frietid for doing that which alone could have saved 
 my life ! But by what means did my faithful Vizier 
 become acquainted with the disguise of this wicked 
 enchanter, or how did he discover himself to thy 
 watchful eye?' 
 
 ' Lord of my heart,' answered Horam, ' when I 
 carried my poor female slave through the camp, 
 ( whose fate may be learned by this ghastly head be- 
 fore us,) I bade her, when she returned and saw me, 
 first repeat these words in my ear :— ' Alia is Lord 
 of heaven, Mahomet is his prophet, and Misnar is 
 the vicegerent upon earth.' — And this precaution 
 I took, fearful lest Tasnar, discovering our design, 
 should invent this method of revenge. Wherefore, 
 when the pretended slave was brought before me, 
 and she repeated not the words that I had taught 
 her, I was assured that it was the enchanter in dis- 
 guise, and waited, till, by prostrating herself before 
 my lord, he gave me an opportunity of destroying 
 the life of the chief of thine enemies.' 
 
 The Sultan of India again embraced his faithful 
 Vizier ; and as soon as the eye of morn was opened 
 in the east, the armies of Ahubal beheld the en- 
 chsinter Tasnar's head fixed on a pole, in the front 
 of the Sultan's army. 
 
 The prince Ahubal, rising with the earliest dawn 
 of the morning, went forward to the front of his 
 ti'oops, and there, at a small distance, he saw the 
 hideous features of the enchanter Tasnar already
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 239 
 
 blackening in the sun. Fear immediately took pos- 
 session of his soul; and he ran, with tears in his 
 eyes, and hid himself, till the sun went down, in 
 his pavilion. 
 
 The vizier Horam, perceiving the approach of 
 heaven's everlasting lamp, would have led on the 
 Sultan's troops to a second attack ; but Misnar 
 commanded him to forbear, that his army might 
 rest one day after their fatigues. 
 
 The great distress of the enchanters, and their 
 unexpected deaths, alarmed the rest of that wicked 
 race ; and Ahaback and Desra, seeing that not one 
 enchanter had succeeded against the Sullan, re- 
 solved to join their forces; and while one led a 
 powerfularmy to Ahubal's assistance from the East, 
 the other raised the storms of war and rebellion on 
 the western confines of the Sultan's empire. 
 
 In the mean time, the two armies of the Sultan 
 and Ahubal continued inactive, till an express ar- 
 rived, that Ahaback was leading the strength of 
 nine thousand squadrons against the Sultan, and 
 that Desra was travelling over the plains of Embra- 
 can with three thousand elephants, and a hundred 
 thousand troops from the western provinces. 
 
 The Sultan instantly resolved to attack Ahubal 
 before these succoiu's could arrive : but the vizier 
 Horam fell at his feet, and besought him not to 
 hazard his army, but rather to recruit and strength- 
 en it. 
 
 This advice, though quite contrary to the opi- 
 nion of Misnar, was yet so strongly urged by the 
 Vizier, that the Sultan gave up his better judgment 
 to the opinion of Horam : and, when every one ex- 
 pected to be called forth to action, the Vizier gave 
 orders in the camp for recruits to be sought after, 
 and went himself to the north of Delhi, to raise a 
 second army for his master's service.
 
 240 THE EXCHAXTERSJ OR, 
 
 The troops of Ahubal, finding themselvcp free 
 from the attacks of the Sultan's army, endeavoured 
 to comfort their prince, who was grieved and de- 
 jected at the loss of his friends : and the provinces 
 of the South, to dissipate his gloom, besought him 
 to permit them to raise a pavilion worthy of his 
 dignity, as heretofore he contented himself with 
 such as his generals made use of. 
 
 The prince Ahubal, who by nature was not 
 formed for war or contest, but only stirred up by 
 the enchanters to be their tool against the Sultan 
 his brother, was easily persuaded to accept of the 
 offers of his troops, and a hundred curious arti- 
 sans were set to work to contri\e and erect a 
 sumptuous pavilion for the use of the prince. 
 
 To these workmen all the provinces who acknow- 
 ledged the authority of Ahubal sent diamonds and 
 jewels, and rich silks, and all the costly materials of 
 the world, to finish the splendid pavilion which 
 they purposed to raise for their prince. 
 
 While the sumptuous tent was raising, the squa- 
 drons of Ahaback drew nearer and nearer, and the 
 elephants of Desra were within thirty days of the 
 camp of Ahubal. 
 
 The vizier Horam, being returned with his rein- 
 forcements, waited on the Sultan, and besought him 
 10 trust the management of his army to him for 
 forty days. 
 
 * Horam,' said the Sultan, ' I have such con-? 
 fidenee in thy sense and thy loyalty, that I grant 
 thy request.' 
 
 The Vizier^ having obtained his end, sent a mes- 
 senger to Ahubal, and desired forty days' truce 
 might exist between thearraie.s : whichtfie prince 
 readily agreed to. In a few hours, the truce was 
 proclaimed in the Sultan's camp : and when ]\Iis- 
 nar hoped tluU his Vizier wcaM hiive attacked the
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF I3SDIA. 241 
 
 rebel army with a force more than double their 
 number, he heard the trumpets sound a truce in 
 the tents. 
 
 Such a behaviour, so contrary to reason, alarmed 
 the Sultan, and he sent for the vizier Horam, and 
 demanded his reasons for making a truce with his 
 enemies. 
 
 * My lord,' answered Horam, ' I have heard that 
 the Southern provinces are erecting a pavilion for 
 your rebel brother Ahubal, which in splendour and 
 magnificence is to surpass all the glories of thy 
 palace at Delhi ; and being convinced that thy sub- 
 jects are led more by show and appearance than 
 by duty and honour, I feared that Ahubal's glorious 
 pavilion might draw the neighbouring cities into 
 his encampment, and thereby strengthen his army, 
 and weaken the resources of my prince. For this 
 reason I besought my lord to give me the com- 
 mand of his army for forty days ; in which space, I 
 purpose to build thee such a pavilion, as shall far 
 out!»hine in splendour every glory upon earth.' 
 
 ' Horam,' answered the Sultan, ' 1 have put all 
 things into thine hands ; but let me beseech thee 
 to be careful of thy master.' 
 
 The vizier Horam, leaving the Sultan, sent to 
 Delhi for workmen and artificers, and, orderinir a 
 large spot to be enclosed, that none might behold 
 his pavilion till it was completed, he carried on the 
 work with great care and assiduity. 
 
 While these works of peace, rather than of war, 
 were carrying on in the two armies oS Misnar and 
 Ahubal, the reinforcements of Ahaback and Desra 
 arrived : and the captains in the Sultan's army 
 hearing of the great addition which was made to 
 the rebel army, while the Vizier was spending his 
 time with his curious workmen, petitioned the 
 Sultan, that one might be put over them, who 
 R
 
 242 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 loved war, rather than the amusement of females 
 and children. 
 
 The Sultan, who thouoht, with his captains, that 
 Koram was rather betraying than forwarding his 
 cause, commanded the Vizier to be brought before 
 him, and, in the presence of the captains, aslced 
 him why he delayed to lead his troops against the 
 rebel army ? 
 
 The vizier Horam made no answer to the Sultan's 
 question, but desired bis lord to bring the captains 
 toward the pavilion which he had erected. 
 
 As soon as the Sultan appeared before the en- 
 closure, several slaves behind were employed to re- 
 move it, so tl'.at in an instant Misnar and his cap- 
 tains belield the most magnificent spectacle that 
 art could achieve. 
 
 The sight of tlie pavilion was highly acceptable 
 to the army of the Sultan ; but the captains justly 
 condemned a performance, which had, without 
 cause, wasted the greatest part of the cofiers of 
 India. 
 
 The pavilion was situated at one extremity of 
 the Sultan's army, at a small distance from a rocky 
 mountain, and surrounded by a grove of palm-trees 
 part of which had been cut down by the Vizier's 
 order, to admit the air and light among the rest. 
 It was composed of crimson velvet, embroidered 
 round with flowers and festoons of silver and gold; 
 :ind in the body was worked, in golden tissue, the 
 deaths of the enchanters Ulin, Happuck, Ollomand, 
 and Tasnar. 
 
 The pavilion stood upon a carpet, or cloth of 
 gold, and withinside was supported by four massy 
 })illars of burnished gold ; the ceiling of the canopy 
 within was studded with jeweU and diamonds ; 
 v.nd under it were placed two sofas of the richest 
 tvorkmanship.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 243 
 
 The Sultan, though much averse to such pa- 
 geantry, was yet persuaded by his Vizier to sleep 
 in his new pavilion : and the glorious appearance 
 which it made, brought thousands to view tlie 
 magnificent abode of their Sultan. 
 
 The account of this splendid tent soon reached 
 AhubaVs army, and every one extolled the glorious 
 pavilion; so that Ahubal's tent seemed as nothing 
 in comparison of the Sultan's. 
 
 Ahaback and Desra, who were in the prince's 
 pavilion, hearing the account, resolved to go in- 
 visibly and examine it -, and leaving the prince, 
 ])utting each a ring on their fingers, they passed 
 the sentinels and watches of both armies. 
 
 But if the sight of the pavilion filled them with 
 malice and envy, the histories of their brethren's 
 deaths increased that malice, and urged them to 
 revenge. They returned hastily to Ahubal's pavi- 
 lion, and related to him what they had seen. 
 
 Ahubal's heart rankled at their account, and his 
 visage fell, to hear how much his brother had out 
 done him in magnificence. 
 
 ' Get me a tent more sjjlcndid than the Sultan's,' 
 said he to the enchanters, ' or disband your armies, 
 and leave me to my fate.' 
 
 ' My prince,' answered Ahaback, ' let not such 
 a trifle discompose you. It is true, we could, 
 in a moment, erect a pavilion more magnificent 
 than the Sultan's; bnt it will be more glorious to 
 dispossess him of that which he hath built, and to 
 set my prince upon the throne of his father : for 
 which purpose, let the trumpet sound on the mor- 
 row ; the truce is at an end, or, if it were not, 
 we mean not to keep our faith with an usurper; 
 and ere the Sultan be prepared, let us fall upon 
 him : who knows but we may sleep to-morrow 
 night in this pavilion which now causes our un- 
 easiness V
 
 244 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 The counsel of Ahaback pleased both Desra and 
 Ahubal ; and they gave orders for the troops to 
 inarch in the morning, and attack the army of the 
 Sultan. 
 
 The forces of Misnar were sleeping in their tents, 
 when the alarm was spread that the enemy were 
 upon them. The vizier Horam arose in haste, and 
 put himself at the head of the army ; but, instead 
 of leading them toward their enemies, he fled off 
 to the right with the choicest of the troops, and 
 took possession of a pass in the mountains behind 
 the pavilion, whence he sent a messenger to the 
 Sultan, that he had secured him a retreat, in case 
 the armies of Ahubal should conquer. 
 
 The Sultan being at the extremity of his army, 
 knew not of the confused attack till it was too late 
 to redeem his lost opportunity. He collected his 
 scattered troops, and led them toward the enemy, 
 at the same time sending a message to Horam to 
 leave the mountains and support him. 
 
 Tlie captains and officers that followed Misnar 
 behaved with great resolution and intrepidity, and 
 the Sultan exposed himself frequently to the darts 
 and missile weapons of his enemies, till, over- 
 powered by numbers, and his own troops, on ail 
 sides, giving way, through the confusion which 
 prevailed, he was forced to make to the mountains, 
 where his Vizier still continued, though he had 
 received the Sultan's commands to the contrary. 
 
 The troops of Ahubal pursued the Sultan's scat- 
 tered forces to the mountains, where the Vizier's 
 troops opened to receive their friends, and then 
 opposed the rebels, who were faint with the fatigues 
 of the day. 
 
 After a great slaughter, the rebels were forced to 
 give ovc-r,and returned to the encampment of the 
 Sultan, whence they loaded themselves with the 
 spoils of their enemies.
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OP INDIA. 245 
 
 Ahaback and Desra were greatly elated at their 
 success ; and Ahubal, in one day, found himself 
 master of India, his brother defeated, and his gaudy 
 pavilion wrested from him. 
 
 Ahubal beheld with surprise the magnificence of 
 the pavilion, and seeing the invidious workman- 
 ship on the outside, where the deaths of his former 
 friends were displayed : — 
 
 'Ahaback and Desra,' said the prince, 'it is but 
 just that ye shouldrevenge yourselves onmy proud 
 brother. For my part, I never can inhabit a pavi- 
 lion which was meant to triumph over my friends ; 
 but you may justly take up your abode here, that 
 the nations may at once learn, when they see you 
 in this pavilion, the former misfortunes of your 
 brethren, and your present well-earned success : 
 wherefore, to-night, my friends, take up your re- 
 sidence here, as this place is most worthy to hold 
 you; and to-morrow I will order my workmen to 
 remove the pavilion next my own.' 
 
 The enchanters were pleased at the speech of 
 Ahubal, and the banquet was prepared for the con- 
 querors in the gay pavilion of the unfortunate 
 Sultan, while he remained among the mountains, 
 wanting even the necessaries of life for himself and 
 his army. 
 
 But the Sultan's misfortunes did not make him 
 forget the cause of them. He called a council of 
 hiscaprains, and commanded the vizier Horam to be 
 brought before them. The Vizier was condemned 
 by every voice ; and Misnar, with teai-s in his eyes, 
 pronounced the sentence of death against him. 
 
 * To-morrow,' said the Sultan, ' must the ill- 
 fated Horam be numbered with the dead.' 
 
 Horam heard the sentence without emotion :— 
 * My life,' said he, ' is in the hand of my lord, and 
 he is welcome to the blood of his slave.' 
 
 The Vizier was then ordered into the custody of
 
 246 THE enchanters; ou, 
 
 a hundred men, and a captain was appointed to 
 
 guard him until the morninir. 
 
 The unfortunate Sultan then retired to rest, in 
 an obscure tent, or rather not to rest, but to an irk- 
 some contemplation. — 'My kingdom,' said he, 'is 
 passed from me ; and, worse than my kingdom, my 
 friend, ray dearly beloved Horam, has proved a 
 traitor to his master ! Were we not as the cedars 
 of the forest, and grew together as the trees that 
 are planted beside the rivers of Arvar ? Our souls 
 were as twin sisters, and our minds were like the 
 stars Leman and Upnor, which twinkle not singly 
 in the dead of the night ! The heart of Misnar was 
 in the bosom of his friend ; it lay upon his bosom 
 as tlie infant lieth in its mother's arms; it smiled 
 and was secure on the bosom of Horam.' — 
 
 As the Sultan was filled with these meditations, 
 his guards gave him notice, that the captain, who 
 was set over the Vizier, had brought Horam to 
 communicate an affair of moment to him. 
 
 * Is there deceit in Horam,' said tlie Sultan, 
 'that hecometh like a thief in the night ? If Horam 
 is false, farewell my life ; let him that destroyed 
 my kingdom, complete his ingratitude, by finishing 
 my fate !' 
 
 The captain then entered the tent of his Sultan 
 with Horam in chains. 
 
 ' Life of my life, and master of my thoughts,' 
 said the Vizier, ' ere I die, I am constrained to 
 show thee, among these mountains, far greater 
 riches than are in thy palace at Delhi, or in the 
 tents of thine enemies; riches that will restore thy 
 affairs, and turn thy tears into showers of joy.' 
 
 ' Are not you satisfied,' said Misnar, ' O ill-fated 
 Horam, that you come to deceive me with new il- 
 lusions? Where is my kingdom? where my royalty? 
 where my army ? By thy fatal counsels destroyed, 
 overwhelmed, confounded ! Now, then, lead, the
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 247 
 
 way, and let me see these curious treasures which 
 are to recompense the loss of all my hopes.' 
 
 The captain then led Horam out of the tent, and 
 the Sultan followed. 
 
 The Vizier, being in chains, moved but slowly ; 
 and the captain of the guard, dismissing his men. 
 drew his sabre, and iield it naked over the head of 
 the Vizier. The darkness of the night prevented 
 the Sultan from seeing whither he was carried by 
 his Vizier. 
 
 They passed over various rocks, and were obliged 
 to wade through some small brooks or rivulets, 
 which fell from the tops of the mountains; till at 
 length they arrived at a spacious cavern, which 
 was formed by two pendent rocks. 
 
 Here the Vizier entered ; and, lifting up his 
 chains, knocked against a small door which was 
 at the extremity of the cavern. In a moment the 
 door opened, and four slaves came forward with 
 flambeaux in their hands. 
 
 The slaves, seeing their master and the Sultan, 
 fell prostrate; and Horam inquired whether all 
 was safe ? 
 
 ' Yes, my lord,' answered the slaves ; 'we have 
 not been disturbed since my lord first brought us 
 to this gloomy cavern.' 
 
 ' Where is Camul V said the Vizier. 
 
 * He watches,' replied the slaves, ' with the axe 
 in his hand.' 
 
 ' What hour of the night is it V said Horam to 
 his slaves. 
 
 * The third watch of the night is past,' answered 
 the slaves. 
 
 * Then enter, my Sultan,' said Horam, ' and see 
 thine enemies perish from before thee.' 
 
 ' What enemies, and what mysterious place is 
 tills?' said the Sultan. 
 ' Who is Camul, and what axe doth he bear in
 
 248 TUE ENCHANTERS ; OR; 
 
 liis hand? Lead me, Horam, nvot into danger; and 
 remember that tlie sabre of my captain hangeth 
 over thy head.' 
 
 The Sultan then entered in at the little door, 
 and followed the Vizier and his grtiard, and the 
 four slaves with flimbeaux in tlielr hands. 
 
 In thi? manner the Sultan passed through a long 
 passage hewn out of the solid rock, till he beheld 
 ata distiince a man seated on a stone, with an 
 axe in his hand, and nine lamps burning before 
 him. 
 
 As they drew near, the man fell prostrate before 
 them ; and the Vizier also fallino: prostrate, desired 
 Jlisnar to take the axe out of the hand of Camul 
 his slave. 
 
 * What wonderful axe is this,' said the Sultan, 
 ' that is thus preserved in the bowels of the earth V 
 
 The Sultan took the axe, and Camul the slave 
 removing the stone on which he sat, there appeared 
 a strong rope underneath, one end of which passed 
 tlirough the rocks, and the other was fastened to 
 an enormous ring of iron. 
 
 * Strike, royal master,' said Horam, ' and sever 
 that rope from the ring of iron.' 
 
 The Sultan did as Horam desired, and struck 
 the rope with his axe, and divided it from the ring. 
 
 The rope being released, flew with great swiftness 
 through the hole in the rock, and Misnar waited 
 some time to see what might be the consequence of 
 cutting it asunder : but nothing appearing, he said 
 to his Vizier : — ' Where are the riches, Horam, 
 which I left my bed to view ? Is this like the rest 
 of your promises, and am I brought here to be 
 again deceived ?' 
 
 ' Royal master,' answered Horam, ' let me die 
 the death of a rebel : I have nothing more to dis- 
 cover; pardon my follies, and avenge thine own 
 losses by the sword of justice.'
 
 MI3NAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 249 
 
 *What,' said the Sultan, enraged, 'hast thou 
 brought nie through the dangerous passes of the 
 mountains by night, only to cut a rope asunder? 
 And was I called forth to see only a passage made 
 in the rocks, and the slaves of Horarn as ill em- 
 ployed as theirmaster lately has been ? Lead me, 
 villain,' continued he, * back to my tent, and expect 
 with the rising sun the fate you have so amply 
 merited.' 
 
 Thus saying, the Sultan returned, and the cap- 
 tain of the guard led Horam back in chains to his 
 place of confinement. 
 
 Continuation of the Tale of the Enchanters ; or, 
 Misnar, the Sultan of the East. 
 
 In the morning, the army of the Sultan Misnar, 
 which had escaped to the mountains, were all 
 drawn out, the cymbals sounded, and a gibbet, 
 forty feet high, was erected in their front, to which 
 the captain of the guard led the unfortunate vizier 
 Horam. 
 
 At the sound of the cymbals the Sultan came 
 from his tent, and gave orders that Horam should 
 be led to his fate. 
 
 The Vizier, unmoved at his doom, surrendered 
 himself to the officer who was to execute the sen- 
 tence of the Sultan ; and the ignominious rope was 
 put about his neck, when a messenger, attended by 
 several sentinels, came running into the camp. 
 
 The messenger hastened to the Sultan, and thus 
 delivered his message : ' Ahaback and Desra, the 
 wicked enchanters who have upholden thy rebel- 
 lious brother, are dead; the army of Ahubal is in 
 the utmost consternation, and the friends of the 
 Sultan wish to see thee hunting thine enemies, as 
 the lion hunts the wild asses in the forest.'
 
 250 TUB ENCHANTERS ; OK. 
 
 This messenger was succeeded by several of the 
 Sultan's spies, who confirmed the account. 
 
 M isnar then put himself at the head of his troops, 
 ordered Horam back to his former confinement, 
 and hastened to fall upon the troops of the rebels. 
 
 Early the same morning, the prince Ahubal was 
 awakened by his guards, who, with countenances 
 of woe, declared to him the death of his friends 
 Ahaback and Desra. 
 
 * Are my friends dead V said Ahubal, trembling : 
 * by what misfortune am I bereaved of them ? what 
 new device has Misnar practised against them ? Are 
 not these wise and sage magicians, then, a match 
 for a boy's prudence t Alas ! what can I effect 
 against him, when these fall away before his victo- 
 rious arm?' 
 
 * Prince,' answered the guards, ' we have too 
 late discovered the wiles of our enemies. Over the 
 masnificent pavilion of the Sultan, which Horam 
 built for his master, the artful Vizier had concealed 
 a ponderous stone, which covered the whole pavi- 
 lion. This, by some secret means, he contrived in 
 the night to release from its confinement, while 
 Ahaback and Desra were sleeping on the sofa be- 
 neath it ; and ere day began to rise, their guards 
 v»ere surprised by the fall, and ran to release their 
 masters from the stone : but, alas ! their bodies were 
 crushed to atoms, and still remain buried under the 
 pavilion, as fifty of the strongest of thy troopswere 
 unable to remove the stone from the ground.' 
 
 At these words the countenance and the heart of 
 Ahubal sunk ; and ere he could recover, word was 
 brought him, that the Sultan's troops were in tlie 
 midst of his army, and that none dared stand 
 against them, unless he approached to encourage 
 them. 
 
 Ahubal was so overwhelmed with fear and grief,
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 251 
 
 that, instead of leading his troops, he prepared him- 
 self for flight; and Misnar, pursuing his good for- 
 tune, was in a few hours in possession, not only of 
 his own tents, but also of those of the enemy. 
 
 The Sultan then embraced his Vizier, and the 
 shouts of the army were, — ' Long live Misnar the 
 lord of our hearts, and Horam the first and the 
 most faithful of his slaves !' 
 
 The army of Ahubal still continued to fly after 
 their prince, whose fear did not suffer him to direct 
 those who came up with him. 
 
 And now, in a few days, the army had been to- 
 tally dispersed, had not the Giant Kifri, enraged 
 at the death of his brethren, and travelling in his 
 fury, appeared before the eyes of the terrified 
 prince and his troops in a narrow pass among the 
 rocks. 
 
 The presence of Kifri was not less terrifying than 
 the noise of the pursuers ; and Ahubal, at the sight 
 of the monster, fell with his face to the ground. 
 
 'Who art thou,' said Kifri, with the voice of 
 thunder, ' that fliest like the roebuck, and tremblest 
 like the heart-stricken antelope? Who art thou, 
 that fliest as the virgin from the noise of th(,' 
 battle, and that increasest the shrieks of the fallen, 
 being wounded by thy fears ?' 
 
 As Kifri spake thus, he seized on the fear-shaken 
 Ahubal, as the vulture shuts within her bloody ta- 
 lons the body of the affrighted trembling hare ; and. 
 lifting him high in the air, he dashed the wretched 
 prince against the rugged face of the mountain. 
 
 The death of Ahubal lessened not the fury of 
 Kifri ; but all that followed the unlieppy prince 
 experienced his rage, till, glutted with blood, and 
 tired of his revenge, the monstrous giant sunk to 
 rest, and stretched out his limbs upon the tops of 
 the mountains.
 
 252 THE ENCHANTERS J OR, 
 
 But the sleep of Kifri was cumbrous as his body, 
 and the dreams of the giant Mere as the thoughts 
 of the enemies of God. In the visions of the night 
 came Ulin before him ; and the ghost of the mur- 
 dered Happuck was in the eye of liis fancy. 
 
 ' Enemy of our race,' said they, * where is he 
 who was to redeem our glory, and to revenge our 
 blood ? ^yhe^e is Ahubal, of whom the dark saying 
 went forth, that none but our race could over- 
 power him ? The dark saying is now interpreted 
 by thy shameful deed, and the powers of enchant- 
 ment are at an end !' 
 
 The giant, disturbed at his visions, started up; 
 the moon rode high above the mountains, and the 
 trees of the forest looked broad with the shades of 
 night. He cast his black eyes to the south, and saw 
 the storm rolling forth in clouds : the tempest ga- 
 thered around him, and poured its fury against 
 him. 
 
 The eyeballs of Kifri, inflamed with anger and 
 despair, appeared like two meteors in the storm ; 
 he viewed the war of elements with contempt, and 
 mocked Alia and Mahomet aloud, and said : — ' Is 
 this the God of Nature's work ? is he angry with the 
 bauble he has made ? has he given his parsimonious 
 drops of rain to these forests, and toiled for years 
 to raise their heads to heaven, that he may scatter 
 them in sport, and destroy them with his thunder- 
 bolts? Let him then view a new ruin beyond his 
 power to compass; for Kifri will no longer live his 
 slave upon earth, but will join his fate to the fate 
 of Ollomand his brother.' 
 
 So saying, the giant bent his body towards a 
 liuge rock, whereon he had slept, and, straininghis 
 ^ough sinews, tore up the mighty fragment from 
 the ground. The earth felt the shock, and its dark 
 entrails trembled; but Kifri, undismayed, threw the
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 253 
 
 wild ruin to tlie clouds. — The labouring mountain 
 returned quickly on the rebellious head of the giant, 
 crushed him beneath its pondrous substance, and 
 finished, by its descent, the life and the presump- 
 tion of Kifri. 
 
 The intelligence of Kifri's death was brought to 
 the Sultan by one of the followers of Ahubal, 
 who, at the first approach of the giant, had run 
 from his presence, and hid himself in a cave in the 
 rocks. 
 
 The Sultan, having restored peace to his king- 
 doms, began to administer impartial justice to his 
 subjects ; and althougli the faith of Horam had 
 been often tried, yet JMisnar chose not to rely al- 
 together on any but himself. 
 
 ' Vizier,' said the Sultan, as Horam was standing 
 before him, ' are my people happy ? it is for them I 
 rule, and not for myself; and though I take plea- 
 sure in punishing the licentious and rebellious, yet 
 shall I ever study to gain the hearts of my obedient 
 subjects ; a father's frown may restrain hischildren, 
 but his smile can only bless them. — Dost not thou 
 remember, Horam, the story of Mahoud, the son of 
 the jeweller? And how am I sure, but even now pri- 
 vate malice may be wreaking as great cruelty upon 
 some innocent person, as the Princess Hemjnnah 
 suffered from the enchanter Bennaskar?' 
 
 ' My prince,' answered the Vizier, 'the toils and 
 the dangers of the war have never for a moment 
 driven from my mind the memory of that princess, 
 who, with Mahoud, underwent the most odious 
 transformation through the power of Ulin.' 
 
 * Nor have I,' answered the Sultan, ' forgot their 
 distress ; but the cares of my empire have hitherto 
 prevented my search after them. As to the Prin- 
 cess, she is possibly with her father at Cassimir ; but 
 Mahoud is doubtless au inhabitant of Delhi, where
 
 254 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 he livedbefore his transformation: therefore, Vizier, 
 give immediate orders, that the respective cadies of 
 each division of the city, who have the numbers 
 and the names of every inhabitant within their dis- 
 trict, be questioned concerning this jeweller's son; 
 and let him to-morrow, be brought before me.' 
 
 The Vizier Horum did as he was commanded, and 
 sent for all the cadies of the city, and examined 
 them concerning ]\Iahoud; but no one could give 
 any account of him. 
 
 The next morning, Horam attended the divan, 
 and acquainted the Sultan with his fruitless search. 
 The Sultan was much dissatisfied at the Vizier's 
 report ; and after he had answered the petitioners 
 and dismissed them, he sent again for his favourite 
 Vizier. 
 
 ' Iloram,' said the Sultan, ' my cadies are remiss 
 in their duty ; Mahoud is certainly hid in my city ; 
 all is not right, Horam ; the poor son of the jeweller 
 would be proud to own that he was formerly the 
 companion of the Sultan of the Indies, though in 
 his distress; he had long ere this been at the foot 
 of my throne, did not somewhat prevent him. I 
 mean to take advantage myself of the confusion 
 of my city, and examine in disguise, those private 
 outrages which are screened from the public eye 
 of justice. Wherefore, Horam, procure two dis- 
 guises tor yourself and me ; and let the emir 
 Matserak be sent ambassador to the Sultan of 
 Cassimir, to enquire after the welfare of the Prin- 
 cess Hemjunah.' 
 
 The Vizier, in obedience to the Sultan's orders, 
 sent the habits of two fakirs into the palace ; and 
 at evening the Sultan, accompanied by his Vizier, 
 went forth in his disguise. 
 
 As they passed through the second street from 
 tlHi royal palace, one habited liko a fakir, with his
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 2oo 
 
 horn, saluted them, and asked them to partake of 
 the alms he had received. 
 
 The Sultan readily accepted his offer, lest the 
 brother of his order should be offended. 
 
 They immediately retired into a remote place, 
 and, the strange fakir pulling out the provision he 
 had received, they began their repast. 
 
 ' Brother,' said the fakir to the disguised Sultan, 
 ' you are, I perceive, but a novice in your profes- 
 sion : you are neither so free nor so ready as T 
 could wish : you have seen but little of life, and 
 you would be puzzled, were you to encounter such 
 wonders as I experienced but last night in my ap- 
 proach to this city.' 
 
 ' What,' answered the Sultan hastily, ' were 
 they ? Perhaps, brother, you mistake me ; possibly 
 tliough not so communicative as yourself, I may, 
 nevertheless, be as brave and resolute.' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the fakir, ' I begin to suspect 
 that you are no true brother ; you know we are 
 communicative among ourselves, but secret to the 
 world about us. What severities have you prac- 
 tised? what scars of self-inflicted austerities have 
 yon to show? By the faith which I profess, I will 
 hold no longer converse with you, unless you give 
 me some convincing proof of the genuineness of 
 your i)rofession !' 
 
 Here the Vizier, perceiving the Sultan to be hard 
 pressed, interrupted the fakir, and said: — 
 
 ' O holy fakir, but stranger to our tribe, whence 
 comest thou, that thou knowest not Elezren, the 
 prince of devotees in the city of Delhi, to whom 
 the emirs bow, and before whom the populace lie 
 prostrate as he passes? thou art, indeed, but newly 
 come to Delhi, since the fame of Elezren hath not 
 been sounded in tViine ears.' 
 
 ' Brother,' answered the fakir, ' the fame of
 
 256 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 Elezren is not confiucd to Delhi alone, since all 
 Asia receives him as a saint : but where are the 
 silver marks of wisdom on his cheeks, and the 
 furrows of affliction which are deep-wrought in the 
 aged front of Elezren, the favourite of Heaven ? — 
 No, young hypocrites, ajie and experience are not 
 to be caught in the snares of youth, nor the saga- 
 cious elephant in the toils of the unwise : but think 
 not your idle pres^umption shall go unpunished, or 
 that the holiness and purity of our caste shall be 
 stained by the unhallowed mirth of a boy's folly.' 
 
 At these words the fakir sprung from the ground, 
 and, running into the street, he made the air echo 
 with his complaints. 
 
 The mob, hearing that two young men had per- 
 sonated the appearance of the holy caste, crowded 
 to the place where the Sultan and his Vizier sat 
 trembling at their own temerity, and were just 
 about to tear them to pieces, when the Vizier, 
 stepping forward to meet them, cried aloud: — 
 ' Slaves, presume not to approach your Sultan ! for 
 know that Misnar, the idol of his people, sits here 
 disguised as a fakir.' 
 
 Luckily for the prince, several of the foremost 
 were well acquainted with his feature?, or it is pro- 
 bable the mob would have looked upon the Vizier's 
 speech only as a device to prevent their fury. But 
 when the fakir perceived the foremost of the crowd 
 acknowledge Misnar as their Sultan, and fall down 
 before him, he endeavoured to escape. 
 
 * My friends,' said the Sultan, ' secure that 
 wretch, and suffer him not to escape :— and Ho- 
 ram,' said he, turning to the Vizier, * let him be 
 confined in a dungeon this night, and to-morrow 
 brought before me in the divan of justice.' 
 
 'The words of my lord,' answered Horara, * are 
 a law which cannot be changed. But let me be- 
 seech my prince to retire from the crowd.'
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 257 
 
 Misnar willingly did as Horam advised : and the 
 people made way for him to the palace, * crying out, 
 ' Long live Misnar, the pride of his slaves !' 
 
 The Sultan being returned to the palace with his 
 Vizier; — 'Horam,' said he, 'each man has his 
 part in life allotted to him; and the folly of those, 
 who, leaving the right and regular path, strike into 
 the mazes of their own unconnected fancy, is suffi- 
 ciently seen from our adventure this day : where- 
 fore 1 would have every man endeavour to fill his 
 real character, and to shine in that, and not at- 
 tempt what belongs to another, in which he cau 
 gain no credit, and runs a hazard of disgrace. — 
 But as the examination of this fakir in our public 
 divan, may rather increase than cover our shame, 
 I would have him brought before me immediately, 
 and with as little noise as possible. Alas! Horam, 
 since the follies of princes are so glaring, how 
 cautious should we be in our deportment and 
 behaviour.' 
 
 The Vizier obeying, went forth, and, in a short 
 time, brought the fakir bound in chains before the 
 Sultan. 
 
 The fakir advanced to the presence of the Sul- 
 tan, full of shame and fear, and, falling at his foot- 
 stool, cried out, 'I call Mahomet to witness, I 
 slew not the man in my wrath, but in mine own 
 defence !' 
 
 * What man!' said the Sultan, astonished at his 
 woids; 'whom hast thou slain, O wicked fakir, 
 that thine own fears should turn evidence against 
 thee ?' 
 
 * Alas !' answered the fakir, 'hear me, most in- 
 jured lord ; for the blood of my brother presseth 
 me sore.' 
 
 ' As 1 journeyed yesterday, and was arrived 
 within a league of the city of Delhi, I turned lue
 
 258 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 towards a place walled round, which I supposed 
 was the repository of the dead, and, finding the 
 gate open, I entered into it, intending to shelter 
 myself for a few minutes against the scorching sun. 
 
 * As I entered, 1 perceived at one end a stone 
 sepulchre, whose mouth was opened, and the stono 
 rolled from it. Surprised at the sight, 1 walked 
 forward toward the vault, and heard within the 
 voices of several persons. At this I was in doubt 
 whether to proceed or retire, supposing that some 
 robbers had taken up their residence there. 
 
 ' In the midst of my confusion, a young man, 
 with a turban hanging over his face, came out; 
 and seeing me, he drew his sabre, and made to- 
 ward me to kill me. Wliereupon I took up a large 
 fragment of the wall, which lay at my feet, and as 
 he came forward, I threw it, and felled him to the 
 E^rouud; then running up, I snatched the sabre 
 from his hand, and would have destroyed him ; but 
 he cried out, saying : — ' Take care what thou doest, 
 rash man ; for it is not one, but two lives that thou 
 takest away when thou destroyest me !' 
 
 ' Amazed and confounded, how it was possible 
 for me to destroy two lives, by avenging myself on 
 one wretch, who, without offence, had meditated 
 my death, I stopped my hand; which the young 
 man seeing, he aimed to pull the sabre out of my 
 liand; whereupon, avoiding his effort, and lifting 
 up the sabre above his head, I, at one blow, severed 
 it from his body. Immediately seeing the blood 
 start from his veins, I ran out of the enclosure, 
 fearing lest any one of his company should over- 
 take rae; and flew tilll reached the city of Delhi, 
 where I subsisted that night and this day, on the 
 alms of the faithful, till I met my Sultan and his 
 Vizier in the habit of two fakirs.' 
 
 ' And what,'-.9aid the Sultan, ' has made thee
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 259 
 
 thine own accuser, since the blood } ou slied was in 
 your own defence V 
 
 ' Pattern of the just!' answered the fakir, 'my 
 revenge on the young man made me not sorrowful, 
 as my conscience bears me witness I tooli not his 
 life till necessity, and mine own preservation, re- 
 quired it : but my mind is restless, because he said, 
 I should take two lives away when I destroyed 
 him ; therefore I concluded that there was some 
 mystery in his fate, or that he prophesied, in his 
 last agonies, that his death should occasion mine.' 
 
 ' If thy tale is true,' continued the Sultan, ' his 
 blood rests on his own head, who was the aggressor . 
 but the story is so very singular, that I shall 
 detain thee till my Vizier and a party of soldiers, 
 be sent to search the enclosure you have men- 
 tioned.' 
 
 The Vizier then gave orders for the guard to 
 mount their horses, and the curiosity of the Sultan 
 was so great, that, although it was night, he re- 
 solved to accompany the Vizier. 
 
 In a short time, the guard being drawn up, the 
 Sultan and Vizier mounted their coursers, and the 
 fakir was carried between two of the guards to 
 point out the scene of his encounter. 
 
 The party being arrived at the iron gate of the 
 enclosure, Horam,with ten of the guards, went in 
 on foot, and marched with the fakir to the tomb, 
 where he had heard the voices, and whence the 
 young man had issued forth. 
 
 As they approaclied to the tomb, they beheld the 
 body of the young man on the ground, and his 
 head at a distance; which induced them to give 
 more credit to the fakir. 
 
 The guards, entering the tomb, found no one 
 within ; but at the upper end they saw a stone case, 
 supported by two blocks of black marble, 'i he
 
 260 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 stone-case was covered with a flat marble, which 
 
 the guards could not remove from its place. 
 
 The Vizier, being: acquainted with the particu- 
 lars, returned to the Sultan, and related to him 
 what the guards had discovered. But Misnar,re- 
 collecting the many devices which the enchanters 
 had prepared to ensnare him, was doubtful what 
 course to take. 
 
 As tlie lid was removing, a sigh issued from the 
 case, and an exquisite beauty arose, as from a deep 
 sleep. 
 
 'Adorable fair one,' said the Sultan, kneeling, 
 * inform me whom it is ray happy fate to release 
 from this wretched confinement?' 
 
 'Alas,' answered tiie beauteous maid, 'art thou 
 the vile Bennaskar, or the still more vile Mahoud? 
 O, let me sleep till death, and never more behold 
 the wretchedness of life !' 
 
 'What!' said the Sultan, starting from his knees, 
 'do I behold the unfortunate Princess of Cas- 
 simir V 
 
 'Illustrious Hemjunah,' said the Vizier Hovam, 
 as the Princess stared wildly about her, ' Misnar 
 the Sultan of India is before thee.' 
 
 The Sultan bade part of his guards return to 
 Delhi, to the chief of his eunuchs, and order him 
 to prepare a palanquin, and proper attendants to 
 convey the Princess of Cassimir to the royal palace. 
 
 While these preparations were making, the Sul- 
 tan and his Vizier endeavoured to soothe and en- 
 tertain the Princess of Cassimir ; and though Ho- 
 ram was desirous of hearing her adventures, yet 
 the Sultan would not suffer him to request Hem- 
 jimah's relation, till she was carried to the palace, 
 and refreshed after her fatigues. 
 
 The clilef of the eunuchs arrived in a short time 
 and the Princess was conveyed, ere morning, to the
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 261 
 
 palace of Misnar ; -where the female apartments 
 were prepared for her reception, and a number of 
 the first ladies of Delhi appointed to attend her. 
 
 The Sultan, in the mean time, having ordered 
 the fakir to be released, and sent out of the city, 
 entered the divan with his Vizier, and, having de- 
 spatched the complainants, retired to rest. 
 
 In the evening of the same day, the Princess 
 being recovered from her fatigue, sent the chief 
 of the eunuchs to the Sultan, and desired leave 
 to throw herself at his feet, in gratitude for her 
 escape. 
 
 The Sultan received the message with joy ; and 
 ordering Horam his Vizier to be called, they both 
 went into the apartments of the females, where 
 the Princess of Cassimir was seated on a throne 
 of ivory, and surrounded by the slaves of the se- 
 raglio. 
 
 The Princess descended from her throne at the 
 a])proach of the Sultan, and fell at his feet; but 
 Misnar, taking her by the hand, — ' Rise, adorable 
 Princess,' said he, ' and injure not your honour, by 
 thus abasing yourself before your slave.* 
 
 ' Fame,' answered the Princess, ' which generally 
 incroaseth the virtues of the great, can represent 
 but part of the merit of the Sultan of India : they 
 who have not seen him can form no true judgment 
 of liis perfection.' 
 
 * Could flattery,' answered the Sultan, 'be ever 
 pleasing to me, it must be from the mouth of the 
 Princess of Cassimir : but I mean to turn your 
 thoughts from vie to a more worthy subject, where 
 you may safely lavish your praises, without fearing 
 to exaggerate. The lovely Hemjunah has pro- 
 mised to relate her wonderful adventures; and 
 Iloram, the faithful friend of my bosom, and our 
 former fellow-suflerer, is come to partake with me 
 in the cliarming relation.'
 
 262 THE ENCHANTERS j OR, 
 
 * Prince/ said Hemjunah, 'I shall not conceal 
 what you are so desirous of knowing.' 
 
 The Sultan then waved his hand, and the slaves 
 withdrew. 
 
 The History of the Princess of Cassimir ; and 
 the Conclusion of the Adventures of Misnar, 
 Sultan of the East. 
 
 ' It is often,' said the Princess of Cassimir, ' the 
 fate of the greatest, to have their private interest 
 sacrificed to the public good. Glory andhonourin 
 your sex, O prince, are motives which make this 
 sacrifice the less lamented ; but in ours, we have no 
 way of becoming useful to the public, but by join- 
 ing hands where hearts are rarely consulted. Such 
 was to have been my fate. Ere I had attained my 
 thirteenth year, my father proposed to marry me to 
 the Prince of Georgia. It was in vain, that, when 
 my mother disclosed the fatal news to me, I urged 
 my youth, and my entire ignorance of the Prince 
 or his qualities. 
 
 ' ' My child,' said Chederazade, ' to make our- 
 selves happy, we must be useful to the world. The 
 •Prince of Georgia has done your father great service 
 in the wars, and you are destined to reward his 
 toils ; all the subjects of Cassimir will look upon 
 your choice as a compliment to them, and they 
 will rejoice to see their benefactor blessed with the 
 hand of their Princess.* 
 
 * * But, madam,' answered I, ' does thehappiness 
 of my father's subjects require such a sacrifice in 
 me? must I live in a country to whose language and 
 manners I am a stranger ; must I be for ever ba- 
 nished ; and must the realms of Cassimir look upon 
 me as a monster, whose absence alone can eff.-ct 
 their comfort and glory 1 O, where will be the soft
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 263 
 
 intercourse of hearts, or the mutual pleasures of 
 love, in a match with such a stranger !' 
 
 ' ' The idle dreams of love,' said my mother Che- 
 derazade, ' were invented by the evil Genii, to in- 
 crease the number of the children of disobedience ; 
 sound reason and policy acknowledge no such in- 
 truder: convenifnce should first beget alliance, 
 and matual affection must be the fruit of mutual 
 intercourse. The flame of love is subdued by ca- 
 price, by satiety, by disgust, and reflection ; and 
 the strongest bands, either of private or public so- 
 cietifs, must be interest and utility. These, Hem- 
 junal, are sufficient reasons to engage your com- 
 pliance with your father's desire ; and these will 
 influtnce you, if prudence and wisdom are the mo- 
 tives )f your choice: and, if you want pruderioe, 
 it is it those, who are able to instruct you, should 
 also ^uide and direct your actions.' 
 
 ' H these words, Chederazade left me bathed in 
 tear5, and trembling at my fate. 
 
 * Jf y nurse Eloubrou was witness to the hard com- 
 manl my mother had imposed upon me, and en- 
 dca-ourcd to comfort me in my affliction : but her 
 worls were but as the wind on the surface of the 
 roci ; and, to add to my griefs, in a few minutes 
 aft(r, the chief of the eunuchs entered the seraglio, 
 ant bade me prepare to receive the Sultan my 
 fataer. 
 
 The Sultan of Cassimir entering my apartment, 
 I ell at his feet. — 
 
 * ' Hemjunah,' said he, ' the Prince of Georgia, 
 i?my friend, and I intend to give my daughter to 
 hs arms.' 
 
 < ' Shocked at these successive declarationsof my 
 fete, which I had no reason to suspect the day be- 
 bre, I fainted away : and, when I recovered, found 
 myself on a sofa, with Eloubrou lying at my feet.
 
 264 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 * * My lovely Princess,' said Eloubrou, ' how 
 little amiable to see you thus! and yet I fear, 
 tlie news I have to impart to you may reduce you 
 to your former condition !' 
 
 * ' Alas !' said T, ' nurse, what new evil has be- 
 fiillen me ? what worse can happen than my mar- 
 riage with a stranger V 
 
 ' 'Princess,' replied Eloubrou, my nurse, 'the 
 Prince is to see you this night ; nay, the cere- 
 monies are preparing, the changes of vestment, the 
 dessert, and the choral bands.' 
 
 ' ' Ah !' said I, ' nurse, cruel Eloubrou! what 
 hast thou said ? Am I to be sacrificed this nght to 
 my father's policy ? Am I to be given as a fee to 
 the plunderer of cities and the ravisher of vrgins? 
 — for such are they whose profession is arms.' 
 
 ' ' No, most adorable Princess,' said a young 
 female slave, who attended on Eloubrou, ' trist but 
 to me, and the Prince of Georgia shall in vail seek 
 the honour of your alliance.' 
 
 'The faithful Eloubrou shrieked at these vords 
 of the female slave, and endeavoured to cla) her 
 hands, and bring the chief of the eunuchs t) her 
 assistance : but the female slave waved hei left 
 hand, and Eloubrou, and the rest of the saves 
 stood motionless before her. 
 
 ' * Most adorable Princess,' said she, ' I amthe 
 friend of the distressed, and I love to prevent the 
 severe and ill-natured authority of parents: gve 
 me your hand, and I will deliver you from tiat 
 monster the Prince of Georgia.' 
 
 * ' What !' answered I, ' shall T trust to a strai- 
 trcr, whom I know not, and fly from my fathei's 
 court ! No ' 
 
 ' ' Well then,' said she, ' I hear the cymbab 
 playing before the Prince, and the trumpets ani 
 tlie kettle-drums : farewell, sweet mistress of tht 
 lierce and unconquerable Prince of Georgia.'
 
 MISNAB, SULTAN OP INDIA. 265 
 
 * As she spake, the warlike music sounded in my 
 ears ; and not doubting but that the Prince and my 
 father were coming, I held out my hand to the fe- 
 male slave, and said : — ' Save me, O save me, from 
 my father's frown !' 
 
 * The slave eagerly snatched my hand ; and, 
 blowing forth a small vapour from her mouth, it 
 filled the room, and we arose in a cloud. 
 
 * The manner of my flight from my father's pa- 
 lace I know not, as I immediately fainted : but as 
 soon as I recovered, I found myself in a magnificent 
 apartment, and a youth standing before me. 
 
 * * Charming and adorable Hemjunah,' said he, 
 falling at my feet, ' may I hope that the service I 
 have performed in delivering you from the Prince 
 of Georgia, will merit your attention V 
 
 * ' Alas !' said I, * what service hast thou per- 
 formed?— Who art thou, bold man, that durst 
 stand before the Princess of Cassirair? — Eloubrou,* 
 said I, 'faithful Eloubrou! where art thou? 
 Where is Picksag, the chief of my eunuchs ? 
 Where are my slaves ? Where are the guards of 
 the seraglio V — 
 
 *' Princess,' answered the young man, 'fatigue 
 not yourself with calling after them ; since they are 
 in the kingdom of Cassimir, and you are in the 
 house of Bennaskar, merchant of Delhi.' 
 
 ' ' Merchant,' answered I, ' talk not so boldly ; 
 it would better become you to apprise the Sultan of 
 India of my arrival, that I may be carried to the 
 Sultan my father.' 
 
 * ' Nay, pretty Princess,' answered Bennaskar, 
 * be not so imperious, but recollect that you are at 
 my disposal.' 
 
 ' As the villain said this, he arrived with me in 
 a vaulted chamber; where releasing me from his 
 arms, he secured the entrance.
 
 266 THE EXCHANTEKS J OR, 
 
 ' ' And now, Princess,' continued the wretch,. ^ I 
 am bound to perform my promise to Ulin, before I 
 take possession of your cliarms.' 
 
 * Though I was dumb with terror and vexation, 
 yet I hoped for a short release, from the words of 
 the vile merchant : nor was I deceived ; Bennaskar 
 took the lamp from the centre of the chamber,and 
 sprinkled a little [)owder on the flame, and repeated 
 these or the like words : — 
 
 ' ' Silly guardian of Hemjunah's virtue, hasten 
 hither, and behold the triumphs of Ulin thy foe!' 
 
 ' At these words the apartment shook, and the 
 countenance of Bennaskar fell : but a voice issuing 
 out of the wall cried, — ' Bennaskar, seize thy prey, 
 and fear not the harniless presence of my foe 
 Macoma.' 
 
 ' The vile merchant then seized me in his arms, 
 and was about to lead me to his detested bed ; 
 when, in a gentle cloud, a venerable and majestic 
 personage descended into the apartment. 
 
 * * Unhappy Princess of Cassimir !' said she, 
 • how has thy imprudence weakened my power, 
 and destroyed thine own safety ! If thou hadst not 
 yielded to the false female slave, the sorceress Ulin 
 had not triumphed over thee and me: but now she 
 has given thee into the power and possession of 
 Bennaskar, and I am not permitted to rescue thee 
 from the clutches of this detested merchant. 
 But though not permitted to rescue the Princess, 
 yet I have power over thee, Bennaskar, base tool 
 of sin ! Therefore, whenever you look upon the 
 Princess, you shall deprive her of sensation, and 
 yourself be deprived of desire. Therefore, thus 
 shall it be : Although Bennaskar is possessed of 
 the Princess, yet shall these apartments be hidden 
 from the sight of all men, except on that day when 
 thy evil race prevails. On the full of the moon only
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 267 
 
 shall Bennas-kar be able to explore these rooms : — 
 and fear not, amiable Hemjunah,' said the Genius, 
 addressing herself to me ; * for neither force nor 
 enchantment shall work your ruin, without your 
 own consent : and although Mahomet, displeased 
 at your late imprudence, for a time permits this 
 enchantment; yet at length, if you continue faith- 
 ful and virtuous, he will assuredly deliver you.' 
 
 ' At these words, Bennaskar turned towards me, 
 with anger and disappointment in his eye : and im- 
 mediately I was seized with a deep sleep, and what 
 passed afterwards I know not. 
 
 ' I found myself awakened by the descent of 
 some liquor in my mouth, and saw a black slave 
 standing before me. At i:he same time, the voice 
 of Bennaskar issued forth from the closet : — 
 
 * ' Ill-fated Princess Hemjunah ! thy tyrant Ge- 
 nius hath now hidden thee a month from my sight: 
 while thy friends, Ulin and Bennaskar, seek to re- 
 store thee to light and to life: say but therefore 
 thou wilt yield to my will, and the enchantments 
 of Macoma will be destroyed.' 
 
 ' ' Wretched Bennaskar!' answered I, 'I knew 
 not that my sleep had continued a month : but if it 
 be so long since I saw the Genius Macoma in this 
 chamber, I thank Mahomet that he Iialh so long 
 hidden me from the persecutions cf Bennaskar.' 
 
 ' ' Haughty Princess !' answered the vile Bennas- 
 kar from the closet, 'my slave shall inspire you 
 with humbler words.' Whereupon he ordered the 
 black slave to give me fifty lashes with the chabouc. 
 
 ' But it is needlei-s, prince, to repeat the 
 various designs of that wretch : for thiee months 
 was I thus confined; and Bennaskar having exer- 
 cised, through the hands of his slave, the cruelties 
 of his heart, used at len;^th, when he found me 
 persist in my resolution, to come forth, and by liis
 
 2G8 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 presence deprive me of sensation. The adventures 
 of the third month you have heard from the mouth 
 of Mahoud : I shall therefore only continue my ad- 
 ventures from the time that he left me with the 
 book in my hand. 
 
 * Bennaskar, seeing his friend Mahoud had left 
 him, went out, and soon returned again with him ; 
 and, taking him into the closet, in a moment came 
 forth, and touching me, he said, * Come, fair 
 Princess; the enchantments of Macoma are now at 
 an end, and thou art given up entirely to the pos- 
 session of Bennaskar.' 
 
 ' I shrieked at his words, hoping the cadi would 
 hear me ; but in vain ; Bennaskar ran with me 
 through the vaulted roof, and 1 found myself with 
 him in a wide-extended plain. 
 
 ' ' Wretch!' said the Genius Macoma, who that 
 moment appeared, 'hast thou dared to disobey my 
 commands, and remove the Princess from the vault- 
 ed chamber, where even thy mistress yielded to my 
 power ? But I thank thee : what the imprudent 
 Mahoud could not accomplish against thee, thou 
 hast effected thyself.' 
 
 ' As she spake, the form of Bennaskar perished 
 from the face of the plain, and his body crumbled 
 to atoms, and mixed with the dust of the earth: — 
 but from his ashes the enchantress Ulin arose, and 
 with an enraged visage turned towards me, and 
 said : — 
 
 * ' Tliou art still the victim of my power; and 
 since Bennaskar is nomore, go, sweet Princess, and 
 join thy delicate form to the form of thy preserver 
 JNJahoud, whom I designed for the flames : but, my 
 will being opposed, he is rescued thence, and now 
 defiles the air of Tarapajan with his pestiferous 
 breath.' 
 
 * Such, Sultan of India, were the consequences
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF IXDIA. 209 
 
 of my imprudence: and thus are our sex, by the 
 smallest deviations, often led through perpetual 
 scenes of misery and distress.' 
 
 ' Lovely Princess of Cassimir,' said the SuUan 
 Misnar, ' I have felt more anxiety during this short 
 interval in whicli you have related your adventures, 
 than in all the campaigns I have made. — But sutl'-r 
 us, O Princess, to add a farther trouble to you bv 
 a second request : for I am as anxious to hear by 
 what misfortune you were enclosed in the tomb of 
 death, as I was to know in what manner you were 
 subjected to the villanous cruelties of the wretili 
 P>ennaskar.' 
 
 ' The tale, O Prince,' said the fair Hemjunah, 
 ' is wonderful : but, alas I new indiscretions drew 
 upon me the severities I have experienced. 
 
 ' As soon as, by our restoration to our pristine 
 forms, we were apprised of your victory over the 
 enchantress Ulin, I found myself in the seraglio of 
 my father's palace : in the apartment from which I 
 was taken by the wicked enchantress,! beheld my 
 nurse Eloubrou ; she was prostrate on the ground, 
 and the palace was filled with her cries. 
 
 ''Faithful Eloubrou,' said I, 'arise and look 
 upon thy beloved Hemjunah: where is my royal 
 father Zebenezer, and the fond Chederazade, the 
 mother of my heart?' 
 
 ' Eloubrou, at my voice, started up like one 
 awakened from a trance. 
 
 ' ' What is if' said she in emotion, 'what is it 
 I behold ? Art thou the departed shade of my once- 
 loved Hemjunah ?' 
 
 ' 'No shade, beloved Eloubrou,' said I, running 
 to her, ' but the true Princess of Cassimir, whom 
 Misnar the Sultan of India hath rescued from the 
 enchantments of the wicked Ulin.' 
 
 ' * O that thy royal mother,' said Eloubrou,
 
 270 THE enchanters; or, 
 
 * were like me, blessed with the sight of thy return !' 
 — ' * What,' said I, ' Eloubrou,wiiat dost thou say? 
 Where then is the much-honoured Chederazade? 
 where is the dear parent of my life ?' 
 
 ' 'Alas,' said Eloubrou, ' who shall tell the dis- 
 mal tale to thy tender heart !' 
 
 ' 'Ah !' said I, ' is my beloved mother no more? 
 Is she gone to seek her disobedient daughter over 
 the burning lake?' 
 
 * At these words, my spirits failed, and I sunk 
 motionless to the ground. — But my lord must for- 
 give me if I hasten over the dreadful scene that 
 followed. The report of Eloubrou was too true; 
 Chederazade, the dearest Chederazade, had been 
 ten days dead when I was restored to my father's 
 palace ; and Zebenezer, distracted at the double 
 loss of his consort and his child, had shut himself 
 up in the tomb of my mother. 
 
 ' Eloubrou hastened to the tomb wherein my 
 father poured forth his tears, and acquainted the 
 guards who watched without that I was returned. 
 
 * The sorrowful Zebenezer, although he was re- 
 joiced at the news, resolved not to come forth out 
 of his consort's tomb till the month was expired, 
 according to his oath; and gave orders, that during 
 that interval, I should be obeyed by his subjects. 
 
 ' My mourning was not less severe than ray royal 
 father's. I shut myself up in my apartments, and 
 would suffer none but Eloubrou to see me. 
 
 ' Nine days passed in silence; our loss affected 
 both, and Eloubrou was as little disposed as myself 
 to forget the cause of her griefs. On the tenth 
 morning, Eloubrou was called out by the grand 
 vizier, who then had the command of my father's 
 kingdom. 
 
 'She returned in haste. — ' Princess of Cassimir,' 
 said she, ' one who calleth himself Mahoud iu-
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 271 
 
 quires for thee ; and the grand vizier, understand- 
 iuff that he was instrumental in your release, waits 
 without to know your will.' 
 
 'At the name of Mahoud, T started from my re- 
 verie. — ' Mahoud/ said I, ' O Eloubrou, deserves 
 my notice ; and the son of the jeweller of Delhi 
 shall be rewarded for his services to your mistress.' 
 
 * ' Alas !' answered Eloubrou, * my lovely mis- 
 tress is distracted with sorrows, and supposes the 
 Prince Mahoud to be the offspring of a slave !' 
 
 * * If he be a prince,' answered I, * he has hitherto 
 concealed his circumstances and birth from me ; or 
 he is not that Mahoud whom I remember in the 
 deserts of Tarapajan.' 
 
 ' ' That,' answered Eloubrou, ' you will soon 
 discover when you see him. But,' continued she, 
 * he desires a private audience.' 
 
 * ' Well then,' replied I, ' introduce him, Elou- 
 brou ; but let my slaves be ready to enter at my 
 call.' 
 
 * Eloubrou obeyed, and brought the merchant 
 Mahoud into my presence, and then retired. 
 
 ' Mahoud fell at my feet, and said : — * Forgive, 
 O loveliest creation of Alia ! my presumption in 
 approaching the throne of Cassimir, and that I 
 have added hypocrisy to my boldness, by assuming 
 the title of a prince, which I confess I have no pre- 
 tensions to take upon me, nor abilities to support.' 
 
 * ' What then,' answered I, sternly, ' has in- 
 duced you to deceive my court V 
 
 * ' Let death,' said Mahoud, falling again before 
 me, * let death atone for my ciime: but first permit 
 me to explain the motives of my presumption. 
 
 ' ' During my journey liither, O Princess ! Hived 
 on the alms of merchants, and, at my arrival, 
 foimd the capital in confusion. — 1 heard that your 
 royal fathci- Zebenezcr was retired ; that my lovely
 
 272 THE enchanters; OR, 
 
 Princess saw none but Eloubrou, the partner of 
 her afflictions : and that the vizier Hobaddan di- 
 rected every thing. — 'Ah!' said I to myself, 'is 
 there then noway of seeing the Princess but through 
 the indulgence of her prime vizier ? and what hope 
 have I that he will hearken to the tale of an un- 
 known beggar ?' 
 
 ' ' In this distress, I knew not where to turn; 
 but happily one saw my affliction. A merchant, 
 wiio was standing in his shop, and had observed me 
 lift up my eyes to heaven, called out, and said, 
 * Young man, what is the cause of your excessive 
 affliction?' — I looked round, and saw the mer- 
 chant ; and, as I was going up to him, fortune in- 
 spired me with a tale that softened his heart. 
 
 ♦ ' I told him that I was a prince, and well known 
 to you, O glory of Cassimir! and that if he would 
 only for the space of one day, furnish me with a 
 proper habit and attendants to appear before you, 
 O Princess, I would pay him tenfold for his kind- 
 ness.' — * It is not likely,' said the merchant, ' that 
 a prince and a beggar should be one and the same 
 person ; but, as I have taken the pains to inquire 
 into your affairs, I will furnish you as you desire, 
 upon condition that, if you are not what you say, 
 you shall go before the cadi, and bind yourself to 
 me for ten years as my slave.' 
 
 ' ' Being hard pressed by penury and want, I 
 readily embraced the merchant's offer : we went 
 before the cadi ; I signed the conditions, that, being 
 properly furnished by the merchant to appear be- 
 fore the Princess, if the Princess of Cassimir did 
 not acknowledge me to be Prince Mahoud,and her 
 deliverer in the afflictions she had lately expe- 
 rienced, I would submit to be the merchant's slave 
 for ten years. — This being executed, the merchant 
 procured me the robes iu which I now stand before
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 273 
 
 my Princess, and slaves to attend me ; and by his 
 interest with the vizier, I was introduced into your 
 presence. And now, O Princess, unless you favour 
 my innocent deceit, by which alone I was able to 
 obtain a sight of my benefactress, I must return 
 from your presence into the chains of slavery, and 
 be exposed to the scoffs of ignominy.' 
 
 ' ' There is no occasion,' said I, ' of giving you 
 a false title, Mahoud ; — J will send for the mer- 
 chant, and buy off your ten years' slavery, and give 
 you sufficient to live creditably as a merchant.' 
 
 * * Alas !' answered Mahoud, ' the cunning mer- 
 chant, O Princess, will never know how to ask 
 enough for my redemption, when he finds I am 
 favoured by the Princess of Cassimir : and if he 
 should, I shall become the joke and contempt of 
 the merchants, who will neither give me credit 
 nor countenance.' 
 
 ' ' Well, then,' said I, * poor merchant, since you 
 are so unwilling to part with your newly-assumed 
 honours, be a prince.' — Then, clapping my hands, 
 Eloubrou appeared, and I said, ' Eloubrou, let the 
 Prince Mahoud be lodged in my father's palace, 
 and let a proper number of slaves attend him; and 
 do you acquaint the vizier with his quality.' 
 
 ' Eloubrou did as I commanded ; and Mahoud, 
 full of joy, fell down at my feet, and kissed ihe hem 
 of my garment. 
 
 ''Prince,' said I, 'arise; and Eloubrou shall 
 conduct you to my father's palace.' 
 
 ' A few days' experience made me repent my 
 folly in giving ( redit to the falsities of Mahoud : 
 for the insolent merchant got proud of his newly- 
 assumed honours, and soon forgot that his title 
 was only the phantom of his own brain. He came 
 daily, and was introduced to me, and every time 
 assumed greater state ; till at last he dared to de- 
 
 T
 
 274 THE EXCHAXTERSJ OR, 
 
 clarehis passion for me, and talked of asking: my 
 father's consent, as soon as the days of his sorrow 
 should be accomplished. 
 
 ' Astonished at his insolence, I bade him depart 
 from my presence ; which he did with difficulty, 
 muttering revenge as he went. 
 
 ' As soon as he was gone forth, one of the slaves 
 entered the apartment, and gave me notice that 
 Zebenezer, my father, expected me in the tomb 
 immediately. — I put on the solemn veil, and fol- 
 lowed the guard to the tomb of Chederazade, the 
 favourite of Alia. I entered the lonely mansions 
 of the dead with fear and trembling ; and, at the 
 upper end of the vaulted tomb, saw my father 
 kneeling before the embalmed corse of the parent 
 of my life. 
 
 ' 'Unhappy Henijunah,' said the aged form, 
 * come hither, and behold the sad remains of my 
 dearest Chederazade.' 
 
 ' Although my heart sunk with grief, and my 
 limbs tottered, yet I essayed to reach the place 
 Avhere Chederazade lay embalmed, and fell at the 
 feet of my father Zebenezer. 
 
 ' ' Rise,' said he, ' O daughter !' and caught me 
 suddenly in his arms: when, O fearful sight ! I per- 
 ceived his visage alter, and that the villanous Ma- 
 houd had seized me in his arms. 
 
 ' Struck with horror and despair, I essayed to 
 cry out ; but in vain ; my voice was fled, and the 
 power of speech was taken from me. 
 
 ' * No,' said he, with a fierce air, ' your struggles 
 and resistance, O prudent Princess, are all vain : for 
 she who will join to deceive others, must expect to 
 be deceived when there is no one to help her : there- 
 fore speech, if you resist, is taken from you.' 
 
 ' What,' said I, * cruel Mahoud,' recollecting 
 myself, and endeavouring to soften him, * is this
 
 MISXAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 275 
 
 the return ray friendship deserves ; when, to save 
 you from infamy and slavery, I gave way to your 
 entreaties, and represented you otherwise than 
 you really were V 
 
 * ' Friendship, O Princess, is built upon virtue, 
 which Mahoud has disclaimed, since he entered into 
 the service of the sage Hyppacnsan.' 
 
 ' Mahoud then showed me my father Zebenezer, 
 whom, by his enchantment, he had deprived of all 
 sensation : he lay in a coffin of black marble, in an 
 inner apartment ; and, after that, he vowed that 
 he would desist from force ; — but, till I consented 
 to his wishes, I must be content to live in the tomb. 
 
 * But I will not fatigue you, O royal Sultan, with 
 the specious and base arguments of the wretched 
 Mahoud : when he found all in vain, he, by his en- 
 chantments, obliged me to sleep in the place whence 
 you delivered me; and what time has elapsed 
 during my confinement, I know not.' 
 
 * Princess,' said the Sultan, ' we rejoice at your 
 escape : but, as it is probable, by your account, 
 that your royal sire Zebenezer still sleeps in the 
 tomb, we will beseech Macoma to hear our peti- 
 tions, and deliver him from the chains of enchant- 
 ment.' 
 
 The Sultan then sent officers to search in the 
 tomb for the body of Zebenezer; and also called 
 together those who were skilled in magic, and de- 
 sired them to use incantations to invoke the Genius 
 Macoma to their assistance. But the arts of the 
 magicians were vain, and Macoma remained deaf to 
 the entreaties of the Sultan and his sages. 
 
 In the moan time, while the Sultan and his vizier 
 Horam endeavoured to comfort the afflicted Hem- 
 junah, the ambassadors returned from Cassiniir, 
 bringing advice that the grand vizier Hobaddan
 
 276 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 had assumed the title of Sultan, and that the whole 
 kingdom of Cassimir acknowledged his authority. 
 
 At this report, Hemjunah sunk motionless on the 
 earth ; and the Sultan Misnar ran to comfort her, 
 declaring that he would march his whole army to 
 recover her dominions from the rebel Hobaddan. 
 
 Tiie two armies of the Sultan of India, and the 
 pretended Sultan of Cassimir, approached each 
 other ; and the troops of Misnar were pleased to 
 hear that their number was treble the number of 
 their enemies. But, however great their superiority 
 might be, the Sultan Misnar and his Vizier kept 
 the most exact discipline among them, and behaved 
 as if they were about to engage a superior, and not 
 an inferior force. 
 
 For some tiine, the armies continued within sight 
 of each other, neither choosing to engavce without 
 some superiority of circumstances, and both watch- 
 ful to prevent that superiority. At length the 
 Sultan observing a weakness in the left wing of 
 Hobaddan's army, caused by sickness, as they were 
 encamped near a morass, gave orders for a furious 
 attack upon the front, but directed the main effort 
 to be made against that wing. 
 
 But the Sultan's intentions were defeated ; for, 
 Hobaddan, commandins: not in the centre, as was 
 expected, but in the left wing (with a chosen troop 
 he had conveyed there the very morning of the en- 
 gagement), totally defeated those who were sent 
 to oppose him. 
 
 Seeing all his endeavours to inspire his men with 
 courage ineffectual, the Sultan travelled onward 
 with them into the desert, as one given up to cer- 
 tain and unavoidable destruction ; and his looks on 
 Hoiam were like the looks of him who seeth the 
 hand of death on the children of his strength. 
 
 After twodays' march, they halted beside several
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 277 
 
 small pools : and such was the excessive drought of 
 Misnar's army, that many perished before they 
 could be prevailed upon to quit the refreshing pools 
 of the desert. These, indeed, thought of little 
 more than present relief; but Misnar, their lord, 
 was overwhelmed with the severest pangs of afflic- 
 tion and distress. 
 
 To increase their griefs, if they were capable of 
 increase, scouts brought word that the troops of 
 Hobaddan, being refreshed after their fatigues, were 
 marching towards them, intending to destroy tliem, 
 while they were faint with want of provision. 
 The army of the Sultan terrified with the report, and 
 seeing no hopes of escape, fell upon the wretched 
 Sultan Misnar, and his faithful Vizier, and, bring- 
 ing them into the centre of the troops, they de- 
 manded their blood as an atonement for the losses 
 they were about to suffer in their cause. 
 
 The ringleader of this general mutiny was Ou- 
 rodi, tlie ancient enemy of the faithful Horam ; 
 who, standing foremost in the ranks, commanded 
 the archers to bind their Sultan and Vizier to a 
 stake. 
 
 The Sultan seeing all his hopes defeated, and 
 the rage of the multitude, knelt down, and recom- 
 mended his cause to the all-powerful Alia. 
 
 And now the archers were about to bend their 
 bows, and fit the deadly shafts to their bow-strings ; 
 when a luminous appearance was discovered to the 
 eastward, and the outskirts of the army saw a fe- 
 male in robes of light travelling over the sands of 
 the desert. In a moment she passed through the 
 ranks of the army, and stood in the circle who 
 were gathered around to see the execution of the 
 Sultan and his Vizier. 
 
 * Misnar,' said the favourite of heaven, 'arise 
 and fear not those sons of clay, nor the malice of
 
 278 THE EXCHAXTERS; OR, 
 
 enchantment : I am thy Genius Maeoma, sent by- 
 Mahomet to save and deliver thee, when human 
 assistance was vain and Impossible. — Therefore/ 
 continued the Genius, ' assume thy just command 
 over these thy subjects, and let them all fall pro- 
 strate on the ground to Alia, and wait to see the fate 
 of those who fight against the Prophet of the faith- 
 ful. But first learn, from thine ow n experience, the 
 folly of trusting even to the greatest human power 
 or prudence, without an affiance in the Lord of 
 heaven.' 
 
 * I know,' answered the Sultan Misnar, ' that 
 Alia is able to dissolve this frame of earth, and 
 every vision of the eye ; and therefore not the 
 proudest nor the most powerful can stand against 
 him.' 
 
 As the Sultan spake this, the opposite army of 
 Hobaddan appeared upon the face of the sandy 
 desert. 
 
 * A Ithough his power be infinite,' said the Genius, 
 * yet can he efiect these changes with the most un- 
 expected causes. To him the pismire and the giant 
 are alike. — But I will not waste that time in words, 
 which I am commanded to employ in action, to con- 
 vince both you and your army of the sovereignty 
 of Alia. Therefore, sufier no man to rise from the 
 earth, or to quit their places ; but lift up your 
 heads only, and behold tho?e enemies destroyed, 
 before whom you fled, as the inhabitants of the 
 earth before the noisome pestilence.' 
 
 So saying, the Genius Maeoma waved her wand, 
 and instantly the air was darkened, and a confused 
 noise was heard above the armies of Misnar and 
 Hobaddan. 
 
 For some hours the Sultan's troops knew not 
 the cause of the darkness that overshadowed them ; 
 but in a little time the light returned by degrees,
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF INDIA. 279 
 
 and they looked towardthearmy of HobadLlan,and 
 saw them ovenvhelmed with innumerable locusts. 
 
 ' Thine enemies,' said Macoma, ' O Sultan, are 
 no more ; save the enchantress Hyppacusan, who 
 at present personates the rebel Ourodi.' 
 
 * The glory of extirpating her infernal race,' 
 said the vizier Horam, bowing before the Genius 
 Macoma, ' belongs to my Sultan ; otherwise Horani 
 would esteem himself the happiest of mankind in 
 her destruction.' 
 
 ' That glory you speak of,' answered the Genius 
 Macoma, * is given to another j a fly is gone forth, 
 the winged messenger of Alla's wrath, and at this 
 moment bereaves the vile Hyppacusan of her breath 
 and of her life.' 
 
 Tiie vizier Horam held down his head at the just 
 reproof of the Genius; but the words of her reproof 
 were the words of truth; for an account was 
 brought, that the rebel Ourodi was suddenly dead, 
 being strangled by some impediment in his throat; 
 and that, at his death, his figure was changed into 
 the appearance of a deformed enchantress. 
 
 ' Although your enemies, O Misnar, are no more,' 
 said the Genius, * jet the assistance of Alia is as 
 necessary for your support as for their defeat ; 
 wherefore he hath given life to the springs of the 
 pools cf the desert ; and your troops will find sucli 
 refreshment from them, that you may safely march 
 over the sandy plains : and, to add to your hapi)i- 
 ness, theold Sultan Zebenezer, being released from 
 the enchantments of Hyppacusan, waits, with his 
 daughter Hemjunah, your safe arrival ; and knows 
 not as yet those wonders, which I leave your pru- 
 dence to reveal to him.' 
 
 The Sultan Misnar well understood the myste- 
 rious speech of the Genius Macoma; but, before he 
 or his troops tasted of the pools, or pursued their
 
 280 THE ENCHANTERS ; OR, 
 
 march, he commanded them to fall down before 
 Alia, the only Lord of the world. 
 
 The troops, having done reverence to Alia, were 
 desirous of repeating: it before Misnar, to ask his 
 forgiveness : but the modest Sultan would not per- 
 mit them. — ' It is no wonder,' said he, ' the sheep 
 go astray, when the shepherd himself is bewildered 
 on the mountains. Let us make,' said he, ' Alia 
 and his Prophet our guide and defence ; and then 
 neither presumption nor rebellion shall lead us 
 into error.' 
 
 The news of the unexpected change reached not 
 the court of Delhi till the troops were within a few 
 days'marchof the city : and Zebenezer and Hem- 
 junah werebut just prepared to meet the Sultan 
 Misnar, when he entered the gates of the palace. 
 
 As ]NIisnar advanced toward the aged Zebenezer, 
 the good old man started with surprise, and cried 
 out, — ' O ^lahomet, is it possible, that the Sultan 
 of India, and the Prince of Georgia, should be one 
 and the same V 
 
 The Princess Hemjunah was amazed and con- 
 founded at her father's speech, and she fell on his 
 a:jed face, and hid, in his arms, the blushes that 
 overspread her. 
 
 'What you suspect, my royal friend,' said Mis- 
 nar, ' is true ; I am, indeed, the man who passed 
 in Cassimir for the Prince of Georgia. I beseech 
 thee, O Zebenezer, forgive my deception.' 
 
 *You have no forgiveness,' said the aged Zebe- 
 nezer, ' O Sultan, to ask from me.' 
 
 ' Indeed,' answered the Sultan, 'my title was 
 just : my royal father Dabulcorabar, being treache- 
 rously advised by those who wished to place his 
 younger son Ahubal on the throne, commanded me 
 to travel, and gain renown and experience in arms; 
 and, to conceal my importance, gave me the title
 
 MISNAR, SULTAN OF IXDIA. 281 
 
 of Prince of Georgia. In this disguise, I came to 
 the royal court of Cassimir, and engaged in your 
 service, O venerable Sultan ; and Alia sent his 
 blessing on us; your enemies were put to flight; 
 and your subjects, who favoured me, gave the credit 
 of the defeat to my arras. 
 
 ' Hearing that you intended me the honour of an 
 alliance with your illustrious family, 1 resolved 
 first to see the Princess Hemjunah, whom I heard 
 you had confined, being warned, from an ancient 
 prophecy, that a stranger should deprive you of Iter. 
 I saw the Princess by means of one of her slaves ; 
 and Hemjunah, my lovely Hemjunah, from that 
 moment took possession of my heart. I was 
 earnest, therefore, with you to propose the nuptials, 
 and was to have been introduced to the Princess 
 the very day in which I received advice that my 
 Lord Dabuleombar was drawing near unto his 
 Prophet. Jn expectation of demanding your daugh- 
 ter as the Sultan of India, and not as an obscure 
 prince, I journeyed to Delhi, and was early enough 
 to see my royal sire ere he departed. 
 
 * Son,' said he, ' evil threatens your reign ; ex- 
 tricate, therefore, yourself from danger, before you 
 involve others in your ruin.' 
 
 * Mindful of my father's words, I resolved to quell 
 the commotions of the empire, before I made my- 
 self known to the Sultan of Cassimir: but Alia 
 has so wound the string of our fates together, that 
 it is needless to repeat the rest of my adventures. 
 Only the Princess must forgive me this, that, hear- 
 ing she had been taken away from her father's 
 court, I was resolved to conceal my interest in her 
 affairs, till I was sensible that the Prince of Georgia, 
 though not blessed with her smiles, had yet no rival 
 in her affections.' 
 
 'Most noble Sultan,' said the Princess Hemju- 
 nah, ' it is vain to dissemble : suffer me, therefore,
 
 282 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 freely to declare, that the Sultan of India has to- 
 tally extirpated the Prince of Georgia from my 
 heart : but, whatever mv own senthnents may be, 
 assure yourself, that I shall uot, at my father's 
 commands, refuse the Prince of Georgia my hand.' 
 The Sultan of India and Zebeuezer were both 
 dcli<?hted with the manner of the Princess Hem- 
 junah's answer : and Horam, the faith lul vizier 
 Horam, was rejoiced to find, that his Master and 
 the Princess Hemjunahwere desirous of rewarding 
 each other, after tlieir mutual fatigues. The 
 whole court expected the nuptials with impatience; 
 and the good old Sultan Zebenezer staved to see his 
 daughter the Sultaness of India, and Misnar the 
 happiest and the most thankful of the children of 
 Alia. 
 
 TALE VII. 
 Sadak and Kalasrade, 
 
 The fame of Sadak lives yet in the plain of Eri- 
 van, where he drew the bow of the mighty, and 
 chased the- enemies of his faith over the frozen 
 mountains of the north. 
 
 When Amurath gave peace to the earth, Sadak 
 retired, with his beloved Ka'asrade, to the palace of 
 his ancestors, which was situated on the banks of 
 the Bosphorus, and commanded one of the most 
 beautiful prospects in the world. 
 
 To increase the bl ss of this earthly paradise, his 
 favourite fairhad blessed him with a numerous pro- 
 geny : and as Sadak and Kalasrade sat under the 
 shade of the lofty pines, their children wantoned 
 and sported on the plains before them. 
 
 His four sons followed their father Sadak daily 
 to the plains of Rezeb, where they strove for
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 283 
 
 mastery in the race, and pointed their arrows at 
 the distant mark. 
 
 'Omy father!' said Codan, the eklest of his 
 children, as they were on the plain, where Sadak 
 was drawing the bow-string to his breast, ' a black 
 cloud arises from the grove, and flames of fire burst 
 through its sides !' 
 
 Sadak quickly turned his eyes toward the wood 
 which sheltered his palace, and saw the sparks and 
 the flame ascending over the tops of the trees. 
 
 * My children,' said Sadak, with a firm counte- 
 nance, ' fear not ; continue your sport on the plain 
 till I return : I will leave four slaves with you ; 
 the rest shall follow your father to this grove of 
 fire.' 
 
 Though Sadak was unwilling to terrify his chil- 
 dren, he knew full well the misfortune which had 
 befallen him. His palace was in flames; and the 
 doting husband hastened with his slaves to the re- 
 lief of his beloved Kalasrade and her daughters.' 
 
 He searched every part of the harem, till he 
 came to the apartments of his three daughters ; 
 who, with their female slaves, were fallen on the 
 earth, every moment expecting to be devoured by 
 the flames. 
 
 - Arise, my children,' said Sadak, * and be com- 
 forted at the presence of your parent. — But where 
 is your mother ? where is my beloved Kalasrade ?' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the children of Sadak, ' we 
 know not : some slaves forced our dear parent 
 from her apartments, as she was hastening to our 
 relief.' 
 
 ' Then,' answered Sadak, ' blessed be my pro- 
 phet, she is safe ! But come, my daughters,' conti- 
 nued their father, ' you must not delay your escape ; 
 the fire makes hasty strides upon us. Come, my 
 children, to my arms, and I will bear you through
 
 284 SADAK AND KALASRADK. 
 
 the flames : but first let us dip in the bath, lest the 
 fire seize on our garments.' 
 
 The resolute Sadak, having rescued his children, 
 inquired of his slaves where they had conveyed his 
 dear Kalasrade ? but none could give answer to the 
 questions of their lord. The slaves were now all 
 gathered together in a body; but four of their 
 number were missing, besides those who continued 
 with the sons of Sadak on the plain. 
 
 As little more could be rescued from the flames, 
 Sadak left only ten slaves about the palace, to re- 
 cover what they were able ; the rest he sent into 
 different parts of the grove, and to the villages 
 around, to seek for their mistress Kalasrade and 
 her slaves : six he dismissed with his daughters to 
 the plains of Rezeb ; commanding them, with 
 tlieir attendants, to join his sons, and seek some 
 shelter and refreshment in a neighbouring village, 
 and leaving orders for his beloved Kalasrade, if she 
 was found, to retire to her children. 
 
 Sadak then went through the most unfrequented 
 paths, and into the loneliest parts of the wood, to 
 seek his beloved, calling upon her as he passed 
 along, and pronouncing the names of the slaves 
 that were missing. This he continued till night 
 had thrown her sable garments on the earth, and he 
 had compassed his palace every way around for se- 
 veral miles; when he resolved to turn again to 
 his palace, and inquire of his slaves concerning his 
 beloved Kalasrade. 
 
 He passed through the woods, guided by the red 
 glare of light, which the clouds reflected from the 
 fire that had nearly consumed his dwelling ; and en- 
 tered the farther part of the terrace, whereon stood 
 the few remains of his once-elegant building. 
 
 The flames, unsatiated with their former cruelties, 
 seemed to rekindle at his presence. His slaves
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 285 
 
 came weeping towards him, but couM give no tid- 
 ings of tlieir amiable mistress ; and Sadak, wlio 
 in the morning had loolied with the utmost satis- 
 faction on the lively scenes around him, now saw 
 the melancholy face of nature, enlightened with the 
 gleams of his own unexpected ruin. 
 
 But vet the wreck of nature could not have dis- 
 turbed Sadak more than the loss of his beloved; he 
 doubted not but that the fire was kindled by those 
 slaves who had torn Kalasrade from his arms ; and, 
 though he felt within himself the deepest affliction, 
 his blood curdled with horror, when he reflected 
 on the tenfold distresses which encompassed the 
 pure and spotless partner of his affections. 
 
 ' O Alia,' said the trembling Sadak, 'fortify my 
 faith, and teach me, even in the horrors of this 
 night, to believe that mercy triumphs over evil, 
 and that the paths of destruction are controlled by 
 thy all-seeing Power ! To me, all is confusion ! 
 misery I and terror! But thou seest through the 
 dark abyss, and guidest the footsteps of the just in 
 the valleys of desolation ! Nevertheless, O thou 
 Just One ! forgive the sinking of my soul, and 
 pour the virtuous balm of hope into the wounded 
 spirit of thine afflicted servant I' 
 
 The bounteous Alia heard the voice of his ser- 
 vant, and the heart of Sadak was fortified and 
 strengthened with religious hope. 
 
 Having disposed of what effects his slaves had 
 rescued from the flames in a place of security, Sa- 
 dak hastened to the village where his children were 
 assembled ; and, disguising the severer pangs he 
 felt himself, he endeavoured to assuage the grief of 
 his fond family for the loss of their mother. 
 
 Several of Sadak's friends soon joined him in the 
 village, and the relations of his wife offered to take 
 care of his children, while he went in search of
 
 286 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 Kalasrade, and his villanous slaves. Sadak with 
 thankfulness embraced the offer of Mepiki, the fa- 
 ther of his beloved; and, having tenderly embraced 
 his children, directed his steps toward the sea-side, 
 and crossed in one of his feluccas, to the city of 
 Constantinople. 
 
 No sooner was Amurath seated on his throne in 
 the divan, than Sadak fell prostrate before him. 
 
 ' My brave soldier.' said Amurath, ' arise. The 
 world, Sadak,' continued the prince, ' talk largely 
 concerning your happiness; and those who envy 
 not the 0th man crown, yet pant after the elegant 
 and peaceable retirements of the fortunate Sadak. 
 Has Sadak, then, a wish ungratified, that he comes 
 thus a humble suppliant at a monarch's feet?' 
 
 ' The smiles of his prince,' answered Sadak, 
 ' are a soldier's joy : and in the sunshine of those 
 smiles did Sadak live an envied life, till one dark 
 cloud interposed, and blasted the ripe fruit of Sa- 
 dak'sjoy.' 
 
 ' What means my Sadak?' inquired Amurath. 
 
 ' While I led my sons to the plain,' replied Sa- 
 dak, to teach them the duties which they owed 
 their prince, the flames seized my peaceful dwell- 
 ing; and, ere I could return to the rescue of ray 
 beloved Kalasrade, four slaves had dragged her 
 away ; and I and my attendants have, in vain, been 
 speking her in the woods and plains that surround 
 my habitation : wherefore, O Amurath ! I come a 
 suppliant to thy throne, to ask redress of thee.' 
 
 * That,' answered Amurath, ' brave soldier, thou 
 shalt have: my Hasnadar Baski shall pay thee 
 twice the value of thine house ; thou shalt have 
 twenty of my slaves ; and as to thy beloved, go 
 where fancy leads thee, and seek a new Kalasrade.' 
 
 The words of Amurath were as the a-rows of 
 death in the heart of Sadak ; and he said : 'Let
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE- 287 
 
 the hand of justice overtake the robbers, and let the 
 power of my lord restore Kalasrade to my arms.' 
 
 ' Kalasrade,' answered Amurath, ' has doubtless 
 been so long in your slaves' possession, that she 
 is, ere this, contented with her lot ; instead of 
 being the slave of one, she is now the mistress of 
 four. But why should a weak female trouble the 
 brave soldier's heart? The chance of war gives them 
 to our arms ; and, as they change their lords, our 
 females change their love.' 
 
 As the blasted oak is torn by the thunderbolt, so 
 was the heart of Sadak rent by the words of Amu- 
 rath : but he concealed the stoims that shook his 
 breast, and, bowing to the earth, dej)arted from 
 the divan. Several months passed in a fruitless 
 inquiry, without the least discovery either of his 
 slaves, or the manner of their escape. 
 
 The gentle Kalasrade in the mean time suffered 
 still severer afflictions. — On the morning in which 
 she was torn from her lord, she was seated on a 
 sofa, with her slaves around her, when she heard, 
 from several quarters of the palace, a cry of ' Fire!' 
 and, in an instant, saw the blaze ascend in three 
 different parts. 
 
 All was confusion and distress ; Kalasrade forgot 
 not her children, but was hastening to their apart- 
 ment, when four slaves broke in upon her, and 
 forced her out of the palace. They flew with their 
 prize to one extremity of the terrace, where a small 
 galley, which was concealed by the trees that over- 
 shadowed the water, waited for her arrival. 
 
 Tiie distracted Kalasrade was delivered to an 
 old eunuch in the galley, who instantly threw a 
 thick black veil over her head, and threatened to 
 cast her into the sea, if she cried out or resisted. 
 
 The threats of the eunuch were vain ; Kalasrade 
 feared no greater misfortune than the loss of Sadak ;
 
 288 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 and she filled the air with her lamentations. The 
 eunuch, finding his remonstrances unsuccessful, 
 shut up the windows of the galley, and urged the 
 rowers to hasten away with their prize. 
 
 Kalasrade, being enclosed in the galley, knew not 
 to what shore she was carried : but, ere long, the 
 vessel struck upon the ground ; and ten black eu- 
 nuchs entering the galley, they wrapped a covering 
 of silk around her, and conveyed her away. After 
 some time they stopped, and uncovered the u.i- 
 fortunate Kalasrade, to give her breath. 
 
 The beauteous mourner looked around her, and 
 saw she was in a garden planted with cypress trees. 
 She fell at the ifeet of him who seemed to have 
 the command of his brethren, and besought him to 
 have compassion on the miseries of a distressed 
 mother and an injured wife. The eunuchs made 
 no answer to the entreaties of Kalasrade; but he 
 who commanded the rest made a sign for them to 
 fling the silken covering over Kalasrade, and to 
 bear her away. 
 
 It was not long before the slaves made a second 
 halt, and took oft' the silken covering again from 
 Kalasrade, and retired. The beauteous wife of 
 Sadak lifted up her veil as soon as she perceived 
 the slaves withdraw; and found she was in an ob- 
 scure room, the windows of which were guarded 
 with iron bars. In one corner of the room stood a 
 small pot of boiled rice, and beside it a pitcher of 
 water. 
 
 Kalasrade hastened to the door ; but the slaves 
 had made it fast without. Seeing all possibility of 
 escape taken from her, and not knowing where she 
 was, the wretched Kalasrade threw herself on the 
 earth, and, with tears and sighs inte.-mixed, thus 
 poured forth her griefs : 
 
 ' 0, whither am I carried from the arms of my
 
 SADAK AND KALASKADE. 289 
 
 beloved ! Where was Sadak, the light of mine eyes, 
 when the hand of the oppressor was on the bosom of 
 his Kalasrade ! Where was the strength of his arm, 
 and the fierceness of his countenance, when they 
 tore his Kalasrade from the nest of her little ones ! 
 O faithful Sadak, whither am 1 borne from the light 
 of thine eyes ! whither am 1 carried from the smiles 
 which refreshed my heart! Did we not, O Sadak, 
 divide the light and the darkness together ? In the 
 bosom of Sadak I hid me from the storm ; in the 
 arms of Sadak his beloved triumphed ! Ah, Sadak ! 
 Sadak ! hear the voice of Kalasrade, ere the vile 
 ravisher come and despoil thee of thy treasure ! 
 My love for thee, O Sadak, has been pure as the 
 rain-drops, and the thoughts of Kalasrade have not 
 wandered from her lord. In the morning, 1 joyed 
 not at the sun, but as he gave to mine eyes the 
 image of my beloved. When Sadak arose, my heart 
 was poured out in a sigh ! when he led his sons to 
 the chase (ah, wretched chase !) my eyes went with 
 him to the grove ; and my thoughts followed him 
 to the plain ! When he returned, his presence was 
 like the sprightly notes of music to my soul ; when 
 he smiled, he was cheerl'ul as the light of the 
 morning. When he spoke, his words were as the 
 dews of heaven on the fruitful bosom of the earth, 
 and his motion was graceful as the waving of the 
 palm-tree on the brow of the mountain. Oh! who 
 has divided my beloved from mine arms? Ah, 
 Kalasrade, thou art as the traveller among the 
 wolves of the forest; thou art as a stranger be- 
 wildered in the snowy plain !' 
 
 Kalasrade vented her sighs undisturbed for seve- 
 ral days, no one appearing but an old female mute, 
 who daily brought her some boiled rice and a pitcher 
 of water, which, though but scanty, was more than 
 sufficient for the beauteous wife of Sadak. 
 u
 
 290 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 During this interval, it was impossible for Kalas- 
 rade to guess at tlie meaning of her confinement ; 
 and seeing no one come to molest her, she began to 
 bear her situation with more temper; though still, 
 like the turtle, her moans after Sadak were every 
 moment indulged, and her fears for her children 
 renewed the horrors of her mind. 
 
 At length, one of her own black slaves, who had 
 assisted in forcing her away, appeared. He was 
 dressed in a green robe, and wore a yellow turban 
 on his head. As he entered the room, Kalasrade 
 retired as far as she was able : but he, with a 
 horrid grin, advanced, and seized her by the arm. 
 
 The beauteous Kalasrade, finding herself in the 
 power of the black slave, shrieked aloud, and filled 
 the room with her cries : but he, regardless of her 
 tears or her entreaties, in a rough and determined 
 tone, acquainted her with his love, and that he in- 
 tended to make her his mistress. 
 
 At these words, Kalasrade redoubled her cries, 
 and the slave proceeded to press her in his arms ; 
 when, in an instant, fifty eunuchs rushed into the 
 apartment, and seizing on the black slave, delivered 
 Kalasrade from his embraces. 
 
 The wife of Sadak was astonished at the new 
 scene of wonders which she beheld : but her heart 
 soon returned to its former fears, when she beheld 
 the mighty Amurath approach. 
 
 ' Let that slave,' said the monarch, ' repay with 
 his life the injuries he has done to this perfection 
 of beauty !' 
 
 The distressed Kalasrade, hearing the command 
 of Amurath, fell at the feet of her prince, and 
 said : ' Lord of thy slaves, whom Alia has sent to 
 the relief of the distressed, behold the handmaid 
 C'f thy servant Sadak before thee! As Sadak, 
 mighty prince ! was teaching his sons to walk iu
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 291 
 
 the paths of their father, four of his slaves, having 
 set fire to his dwelling, rushed into the harem, 
 and bore me away to a galley; in which, throwing 
 a blind over me, they conveyed me to this 
 wretched hut, where, till to-day, I have been in- 
 dulged in my silent woes. But a few moments 
 ago, this base slave entered, whom 1 suspect to be 
 the author of my misfortunes ; and was about to 
 compel me to bear his filthy love, when the guards 
 of my lord rushed in, and preserved me from 
 his villanous malice ; wherefore, mighty lord, per- 
 mit thy slave to depart, and, if it please thee, 
 gracious prince, let a few of these my deliverers 
 convey me from this slave's house to Sadak thy 
 servant.' 
 
 As Kalasrade uttered these words, Amurath made 
 a sign to his eunuchs to withdraw ; and, taking the 
 lovely Kalasrade by the hand, he bade her arise. — 
 * Beauteous Kalasrade,' said he, ' I am pleased at 
 your artless tale ; yet are you much deceived : 
 you are not in a slave's house, fair mistress of my 
 heart, but in the garden of thy Amurath 's seraglio.' 
 
 At these words the countenance of Kalasrade 
 changed ; a deadly paleness overspread her cheeks, 
 and she fell on the earth, as a flower cut oiF from 
 its root by the stormy wind. 
 
 Although Amurath called in immediate assis- 
 tance, it was long before they could restore motion 
 and life to the miserable Kalasrade ; who, as soon 
 as i^he beheld the countenance of Amurath, again 
 sunk to the earth. 
 
 ' Doubor,' said Amurath, * I perceive Kalasrade's 
 joy has overpowered her. While she is in the trance 
 of happiness, too great for her mortal nature to live 
 under, let her be conveyed to the richest apartments 
 of the seraglio, where the favourites of our race 
 enjoy the cuuveise of their lord; and let all ho-
 
 292 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 mage be paid to her nyIio is destined to share in the 
 pleasures of Amu rath.' 
 
 While Doubor, and the rest of the eunuchs, 
 waited to perform tlie will of their prince, Amur 
 rath returned to the seraglio, and entered the baths, 
 and afterwards arrayed himself in his most sump- 
 tuous rubes. He then sent to inquire of the chief 
 oftlie eunuchs whether Kalasrade was recovered. 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs came with the counte- 
 nance of sorrow. 
 
 '\Aliat!' said Amurath, tremblincr, as he saw 
 the posture of his slave, * is not the beauteous Ka- 
 lasrade arisen from the slumbers of transport?' 
 
 ' Lord of li/e,' answered Doubor, ' we have used 
 every secret of physic in vain. Our beauteous mis- 
 tress still slumbers on the sofa whereon we conveyed 
 her.' 
 
 ' If so,' replied Amurath, 'let us hasten to the 
 adjoining apartment, where I may behold, unseen, 
 the joy which will awaken in her breast, as her 
 evelids unfold to her the splendours that surround 
 her.' 
 
 After Amurath had been some time stationed in 
 his secret stand, the lovely Kalasrade opened her 
 eyes, and beheld the magnificent apartment into 
 which she had been conveyed. 
 
 The beauteous wife of Saduk, seeing the mutes 
 standing on each side of her, the fair female slaves 
 falling prostrate in two rows before the steps of the 
 sofa, and the eunuchs, with folded arms and down- 
 cast eyes at a distance, shrieked aloud, and clap- 
 ping her hands together in wild despair, cried our, 
 * O Sadiik, Sadak, save me from this pompous hor- 
 ror !' She then in frantic haste, tore ofi" the mag- 
 nificent bracelet of diamonds, which, during her 
 faintirg, had been fastened to her arms, and the 
 rich girdle of rubies which adorned her waist, the
 
 SADAK AKD KALASRADE. 293 
 
 pearls and the emeralds which were hung upon her 
 bosom ; and looking on herself, — ' If I have any 
 thhig,' said she, ' that may tempt the lawless to 
 injure Sadak's love, thus will I sacrifice it to our 
 mutual truth !' 
 
 As she spake these words, she fastened her deli- 
 cate hands on her cheeks, and, before the eunuchs 
 (who instantly ran toward her to prevent her inten- 
 tions) could seize her, she had marked her features 
 with streams of blood. The disappointed Amurath 
 could no longer contain himself, but he entered the 
 apartment just as the blood was starting from the 
 lovely cheeks of the wife of Sadak. ^ 
 
 ^Slaves!' said he, 'your lives shall answer 
 this neglect ; your base folly has robbed me of all 
 my joys. Behold, my Kalasrade is defiled with 
 blood, and Amurath must abstain from her em- 
 brace I But if these deserve death, what torture 
 should await the wretched and foolish Kalasrade, 
 who presumes to value the caresses of a slave, when 
 the mighty Amurath hath received her into the 
 seraglio of his pleasures !' 
 
 'Alas, mighty prince !' said the distracted Ka 
 lasrade, falling at his feet, who can absolve the 
 plighted vow ? or ' 
 
 * Polluted slave !' said Amurath, starting from 
 her, ' defile not my garments with thy touch, nor 
 mine ears with thy rebellion. For three days shall 
 I leave thee, till thou art washed from the stains of 
 this frantic deed ; at the end of which time, either 
 prepare to receive my caresses, or expect to see the 
 head of Sadak blackening in the sun, before the 
 windows of the seraglio !' 
 
 At these words the incensed Amurath left the 
 fair Kalasrade weeping on the ground, and retired 
 to a different part of the palace : but gave orders 
 that the chief of his eunuchs should attend her, to
 
 294 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 see that she was purified from the stains of her 
 blood. The disconsolate fair one e:ave herself up 
 to perpetual grief, and refused to taste the delica- 
 cies that were set before her, although Doubor on 
 his knees besought her to consider the dreadful 
 consequences of offending his lord. 
 
 ' Lovely Kalasrade/ said the trembling eunuch, 
 *it is to the intercession of the father of thy lord, 
 Sadak, that Doubor owes the spirit which en- 
 livens him.— When Elar, the father of Sadak, 
 fought by the side of Mahomet his lord, on the 
 confines of Sclavonia, and the inhabitants of Za- 
 grah fled before him, my widowed mother, with 
 her family, were among the number of the fugi- 
 tives : but as she held a daughter in each hand, and 
 was laden with me, an infant, on her back, she was 
 soon unable to keep up with her brethren, whose 
 concern was so urgent for themselves, that they re- 
 fused to bear any part of her burden. 
 
 * My mother, Idan, finding it in vain to fly with 
 her children, and resolving not to leave them behind 
 her to the merciless fury of her enemies, sat down 
 by the road-side, and while I hung on the breast, 
 embraced, with the utmost tenderness, her two 
 daughters. 
 
 ' Ere she had completed her caresses, the out- 
 skirts of Mahomet's army appeared. Two Janis- 
 saries first reached the miserable widow ; they exa- 
 mined her features; but age had spread the veil 
 of safety on her cheeks. The daughters of the 
 wretched widow next excited their attention ; the 
 countenance of Liberak, the eldest, bedewed with 
 tears, appeared like the melting snow ; and the 
 bloom of Hirab, the second, shone through the 
 pearly drops that hung upon her face, as the rose- 
 bud laden with the dew of light. 
 
 ' ' Be this my prey,' said the first Janissary j and
 
 SADAK AND KALAS3ADE. 295 
 
 seized on the elegant Liberak. ' And be tliis mine/ 
 said liis comrade, fastening on the blush-covered 
 Hirab. 
 
 ' Idan, my mother, awaking from her trance of 
 sorrows by the rude onset of the two Janissaries, 
 called aloud on her Christian gods for relief, and 
 held each daughter firmly by the hand, while the 
 Janissaries endeavoured to loosen her hold ; which 
 the first not effecting so easily as he hoped, drew 
 his scimitar and severed her hand and her daughter 
 from the miserable Idan. His comrade, observing 
 the brutal success of his fellow-soldier, drew his 
 scimitar likewise, and was about to gain his prize 
 by the same kind of cruelty ;— when Elar, the cap- 
 tain of the band, rode up, and seeing the accursed 
 design of the Janissary, with his uplifted scimitar 
 hewed him to the ground. 
 
 The first Janissary, seeing the fate of his com- 
 rade, fled; and Elar gave orders that Idan and her 
 children should be preserved : he set a guard over 
 her, and sent, with several slaves, one experienced 
 in the knowledge of physic to bind up her wound : — 
 but the kind effurts of Elar were vain ; my mother 
 fainted with the loss of blood, and, before proper 
 assistance could be procured, expired in the arms 
 of her helpless daughters. 
 
 ' Liberak and Hirab, the children of Idan, fell on 
 the face of their mother, and ceased not to mourn 
 over their unhappy parent ; neither could the at- 
 tendants whom Elar had provided prevail on them 
 to receive the least refreshment. They continued, 
 during the pursuit of the Turks after the Sclavo- 
 nians (which lasted three days), immoveable on 
 the body of their dear mother Idan, while I was 
 nourished by one of the slaves of Elar. 
 
 * Sorrow and fatigue soon put an end to the lives 
 of Liberak and Hirab, the duteous daughters of the
 
 296 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 deceased Idan ; and I was left a helpless infant in 
 the arms of the slaves of Elar ; who, after the re- 
 turn of the army from pursuing their enemies, pre- 
 sented me to Elar, with an account of the death of 
 my mother and ray sisters. 
 
 ' Elar, perceiving a liveliness in my looks, sent 
 the slave with me to Mahomet, who gave orders 
 that I should be admitted into his seraglio : and 
 one of the first things I learned there, was this 
 history from the mouth of a slave who was ap- 
 pointed to be my nurse. Wherefore be not sur- 
 prised, beauteous Kalasrade, at my affection for 
 Sadak, the son of my lord Elar, by whose generous 
 intercession I became a servant of Mahom.et, and 
 was afterwards, by the favour of the mighty Amu- 
 rath, exalted to this post of confidence and honour. 
 But, alas ! how will my desire to serve Sadak be 
 believed, when it is known that I, by the com- 
 mand of Amurath, corrupted his slaves, and as- 
 sisted them in bringing the wife of my lord into 
 this seraglio! 
 
 ' Indeed, faithful Kalasrade, my ignorance must 
 plead my excuse : bred up in this palace, I knew no 
 law but the will of my master ; and I believed, that 
 every female would esteem ither greatest happiness 
 to enjoy the smilesof the mighty Amurath. But the 
 despair of Sakak's beauteous wife, her constancy, 
 and her contempt of every grandeur (when the price 
 of unfaithfulness), have convinced me how much 
 more I have distressed the noble Sadak, and to what 
 a precipice I have dragged the much-injured Kalas- 
 rade : and yet, what had my refusal to obey Amu- 
 rath benefitted her cause ? Death had been my in- 
 stant reward, and some more sat'o^e heart had been 
 procured to direct the bloody resolves of Amurath 
 against you. Yet I plead not my own excuse ; but 
 mean, ere it be too late, to serve the much-injured 
 wife of Sadak, the son of my patron Elar.'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 297 
 
 ' If you mean to serve me, Doubor, (though 
 much I suspect the integrity of your tale,) lead me 
 this instant,' said the lovely Kalasrade, ' out of the 
 seraglio, and waft me over to the dwelling of Sadak, 
 my lord.' 
 
 'What!' answered Doubor, ' is Kalasrade such 
 a stranger to the watchful keepers of this seraglio, 
 that she supposes it possible for any one to escape 
 unobserved through the various guards which sur- 
 round it? Know you not, beloved of Sadak, that 
 numberless mutes and eunuchs watch it night and 
 day within ; and without are stationed a thousand 
 Janissaries both by water and by land ? No, fair 
 captive ! there is no escape from these walls, unless 
 Amurath consent.' 
 
 * Is this, base Doubor !' answered Kalasrade, 
 ' your promised comfort, that you officiously come 
 to certify me of my ruin ? Thou art, indeed, a 
 Christian renegade, and no Turk ; for thou de- 
 lightest to torment those whom thou canst not save. 
 O Sadak ! Sadak ! was it for this, thy father Elar 
 preserved this Christian's blood, that he should be 
 the chief engine of Amurath's malice against thee? 
 Such tales as these are fitting to drive pity from a 
 warrior's breast, and to j ustify the slaughter of those 
 who spare neither sex nor age !' 
 
 ' It were hard,' answered Doubor, the chief of 
 the eunuchs, * to condemn the fierce courser, be- 
 cause he cannot fly without the assistance of the 
 earth whereon he bounds ; or to extirpate the olive- 
 tree, because it bears not the luscious clusters of 
 the vine. Although Doubor is unable to release 
 the fair Kalasrade, yet he may find some expedient 
 to drive off the completion of Amurath's designs/ 
 
 'Ah! faithful Doubor!' said Kalasrade, con- 
 vinced of her injudicious hastiness, ' forgive the 
 wild sallies of a distempered mind; I am satisfied
 
 298 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 of your kind intention, and I Malt with impatience 
 to hear your instructions and advice.' 
 
 * Tiic'great foibleof Amurath,' rephed the chief 
 of the eunuclis, ' is pride ; and even his love is 
 subservient to the haughtiness of his soul.' 
 
 ' If so,' answered Kalasrade, interrupting him, 
 * I will tempt his utmost anger, and merit his con- 
 tempt : I will sting his proud heart with taunts and 
 revi lings, and force him to cast me forth to public 
 scorn.' 
 
 * Alas !' answered Doubor, ' you know not, beau- 
 teous Kalasrade ! the fury of Amurath : such a be- 
 haviour would irritate him to invent new torments 
 for Sadak, through whom he knows the heart of 
 Kalasrade is soonest wounded ; no, my lovely mis- 
 tress, you must use far other arts, if you mean to 
 preserve yourself unhurt in this impregnable se- 
 raglio. "While Amurath thinks you love Sadak, no 
 concession of yours will please him: he may, in- 
 deed, for a few hours, take a pleasure in your 
 smiles; but his jealous heart will soon awake, and 
 his rage against the unfortunate Sadak will quickly 
 rekindle.' 
 
 ' O Doubor,' said Kalasrade, ' where will your 
 mean advice end?' 
 
 * Fear not, constant Kalasrade,' answered the 
 chief of the eunuchs • ' I seek to deliver you even 
 from the horrors of your own imagination. In the 
 wide ocean is a large island surrounded by inacces- 
 sible rocks and deceitful quicksands; in the centre 
 of which, from a rising ground, runs a small spring, 
 whose waters are of such a nature, that whoever 
 drinks of them immediately forgets whatever has 
 passed before in their lives : but these waters are 
 heset with such insurmountable difficulties, that no 
 one hath ever been able to draw of that stream, 
 though tliousands have perished in the undertaking.
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 299 
 
 * When Amurath, then, next enters, lovely Ka- 
 lasrade, into these apartments, appear submissive 
 and humble before him ; and when he presses yon 
 to accept of his love, promise to yield to his desirt^ 
 on one condition; that he procures for you the 
 Waters of Oblivion, that you may forget all your 
 former converse with Sadak, and may be made fit 
 to receive the conqueror of the earth.' 
 
 ' Ah, Doubor ! Doubor ! ' answered Kalasrade, 
 * how can I prevail upon myself, even in deceit, to 
 speak so disrespectfully of Sadak, the beloved of 
 my soul ? — O Sadak, may I be indeed the tyrant's 
 mistress, when my base heart forgets its lovely 
 union with Sadak, its lord !' 
 
 * Consider, faithful consort of Sadak,' answered 
 Doubor, ' what otherwise may be your doom : bet- 
 ter it is to speak in terms of disgrace of Sadak, than 
 to disgrace his love by suffering the wild effects of 
 Amurath's desires.' 
 
 ' Doubor,' said Kalasrade, ' I had much rather 
 submit to every lesser ill, than have my heart- 
 strings broken by his hated embrace !' 
 
 ' I had not dared to have staid thus long at the 
 feet of Kalasrade,' answered Doubor, ' unless Amu- 
 rath had sent me to soften your heart : 1 will now 
 return, and prepare him to be deceived by the re- 
 quest of his Sultana.' 
 
 ' Ah, Doubor,' said Kalasrade, ' if you mean to 
 serve me, never again let me hear that detested 
 name ; Sultana ! to me, is a worse sound than po- 
 verty and contempt can frame !' 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs bowed to the earth, 
 and withdrew from the presence of Kalasrade. 
 
 ' The tale of Doubor,' said Kalasrade to herself, 
 as the chief of the eunuchs left the room, ' may be 
 only a fertile invention to amuse and soften the 
 rigorous sorrows of my heart ; but, as they cannot
 
 300 8ADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 change my fixed resolves, I will act as though I 
 believed them. If there is truth in his words, his 
 device may, at worst, put off for a time the mis- 
 fortunes I have too much reason to dread.' 
 
 In the eveninff, the slaves of the seraglio warned 
 Kalasrade of Amnrath's approach; and as he 
 entered, the beauteous wife of Sadak fell with her 
 face to the earth. 
 
 * Gracious Amurath,' said Kalasrade, 'forgive a 
 slave's presumption, and I will speak.' 
 
 * Speak the whole wishes of your heart,' replied 
 Amurath ; * and if they are subservient to our 
 lore, tliough my empire were the price, I would 
 purchase fair Kalasrade's peace.' 
 
 * There is, my lord,' said Kalasrade, ' as I have 
 heard, a spring, whose waters are of such a nature, 
 that whoever drinks of them immediately forgets 
 whatever has passed before in their lives. Let my 
 lord then swear unto his slave, that, ere he takes 
 her to his arms, he will procure her a draught of 
 that pleasant stream ; and then Kalasrade shall be 
 wholly, both in body and mind, the slave of Amu- 
 rath's desires.' 
 
 ' Rather,' said Amurath, ' the mistress of his 
 heart. Yes, lovely Kalasrade, I will swear by Ma- 
 homet, our holy Prophet, never to come in unto you 
 till I have procured you a taste of that stream, 
 provided you can find any one within two days, 
 who can describe to me the place where it rises.' 
 
 Kalasrade then fell at the feet of Amurath, and 
 said — ' Thou hast made the heart of thy slave to re- 
 joice ; thou hast not only lifted her fVom obscurity, 
 but thou hast renewed the streams of her life ; that, 
 having lost all memory of the past, she may seek 
 to please her lord, without difhdence at the mean 
 thoughts of her former state.' 
 
 ' Beauteous Kalasrade,' said the fond Amurath,
 
 SADAK AXD KALASRADE. 801 
 
 * arise. — I have sworn by Mahomrt, and I will 
 hasten to gratify the desire of my Kalasrade.' 
 
 At tliese words, Amurath left the fair Kalasrade, 
 inwardly rejoicing at the success of Doubor's ad- 
 vice ; and hastened to call unto him the sage Ba- 
 lobor, who uas acquainted with every natural pro- 
 duction of the earth. 
 
 * Balobor,' said Amurath, as the sage came into 
 his presence, ' can you describe to me the place 
 where that spring may be found, whose waters are 
 of such a nature, that whoever drinks of them 
 immediately forgets whatever has passed before in 
 his life V 
 
 ' If the mighty Amurath,' answered the sage 
 Balobor, ' will permit me to retire to my books, I 
 will, ere the morning's sun, discover to my prince, 
 if the earth produces such a spring, where it may 
 be found.' 
 
 As soon as Balobor was gone forth, Amurath sent 
 for Doubor, and demanded of him where the 
 Waters of Oblivion might be found, 
 
 Doubor perceived by the question of his lord, that 
 Kalasrade had succeeded : but the prudent eunuch 
 cared not to confess his knowledge of that spring ; 
 he therefore disguised his words, and said ; — ' Son 
 of the faithful, thy slave has never been bred in the 
 natural sciences ; but if my lord will permit me to 
 go in quest of the wise philosopher Balobor, he will 
 doubtless unfold to my prince the secret springs of 
 the Waters of Oblivion.' 
 
 ' It is enough,' said Amurath, ' faithful Doubor ; 
 Balobor has promised by to-morrow's sun to reveal 
 to me the fountains of Oblivion.' 
 
 While Amurath was in search of the Waters of 
 Oblivion, the gentle Kalasrade was in secret praising 
 the bounteous Alia, who had for a time preserved 
 her from the tvrunt's will.
 
 302 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 The next morning, the sage Balobor appeared in 
 the presence of Amurath, and said — ' The Waters 
 of Oblivion, O mighty Amurath, are preserved by a 
 watchful race of Genii, in a wide-extended island, 
 in the southern parts of the Pacific Ocean- The 
 island itself is fortified by inaccessible precipices, 
 and beset with pointed rocks ; around it are spread 
 insidious quicksands, to prevent the approach of 
 any vessel, and which sink with the weight of those 
 who attempt to venture upon it. What dangers sur- 
 round the spring, which is situated in the centre 
 of the island, none can tell : for, although thousands 
 have attempted to seek after it, none have ever 
 succeeded ; but destruction has overwhelmed them 
 in the very entrance of their toils.' 
 
 At the words of the sage Balobor, the countenance 
 of Amurath was overcast with frowns, and the tem- 
 pest which raged in his breast strove for utterance 
 in his face : but the disappointed monarch en- 
 deavoured to conceal his discontent, and retired 
 from the apartment whither Balobor had been or- 
 dered to attend him. 
 
 Amurath, vexed and enraged at the contrivance 
 of Kalasrade, hastened to the female seraglio, me- 
 ditating vengeance on Sadak and his wife : but as 
 he went along, a thought glanced across his imagi- 
 nation, and he stopped to pause on the malice his 
 heart was framing against the innocent victims of 
 his wrath. — ' Sadak,' said the monarch to himself, 
 'the proud Sadak still pursues his inquiries after 
 Kalasrade; I will command him to appear in my 
 presence, and heap the vengeance due to Kalas- 
 rade's falsehood on his head.' 
 
 Amurath then gave orders for his Janissaries to 
 bring Sadak before him ; not by compulsion, but 
 to consult with him, as one who had formerly ex- 
 perienced the favours of his lord.
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 303 
 
 The Janissaries fouud the melancholy Sadak in- 
 structing his little ones, in the village whither they 
 had retired from the flames of his palace. They 
 showed him the signet of Amurath, and required 
 his immediate attendance. 
 
 The Janissaries, having brought the wretched 
 Sadak into the presence of Amurath, retired. 
 
 ' Brave soldier,' said Amurath, ' hath the peace- 
 ful sloth of retirement yet unstrung your manly 
 heart, or are you still the undaunted warrior I once 
 knew you V 
 
 ' My prince,' answered Sadak, ' Sadak is ready 
 to receive your commands: but the day is ill-spent 
 in words, when action can only approve my worth.' 
 * Sadak,' answered Amurath, ' the malicious 
 whispers of my courtiers concerning your worth 
 have much disturbed me ; and I mean to-morrow, 
 in the public divan, to give you a glorious oppor- 
 tunity of convincing their little souls how greatly 
 the soldier towers above the safe advisers of the 
 cabinet. Fail not, generous Sadak, to be present ; 
 and I will, in the sight of my whole court, require 
 some one to stand forth, and undertake a voyage 
 in que^t of the Waters of Oblivion, which are 
 guarded by every natural barrier, and the united 
 efforts of a race of evil Genii. Then, when a tame 
 silence follows my proposal, and the base courtiers 
 hang their coward heads, my brave Sadak shall 
 arise, and challenge to himself the glorious under- 
 taking.' 
 
 Sadak bowed at the words of Amurath, and said : 
 ' Lord of the faithful, far be it from Sadak to prove 
 unworthy of his master's love !' 
 
 The artful Amurath, having thus prepossessed 
 the mind of Sadak, went not into the apartments 
 of Kalasrade, but waited, with great solicitude, the 
 arrival of the next day.
 
 304 SADAK AND EALASRADE. 
 
 As the all-diffusive light of morn appeared, which 
 shines alike upon the care-worn countenance of the 
 guilty wretch, and on the open face of artless in- 
 nocence, Amurath arose, impatient till the hour of 
 public audience came ; when, being seated on his 
 throne, amidst the nobles of his court, and seeing 
 the faithful Sadak at the extremity of the divan, 
 he thus began his deceitful speech: — 
 
 ' Nobles and warriors, who, by your counsels and 
 exploits in arms, cast various lustres on my throne ; 
 say, where shall Amurath find that brave resolved 
 heart, who will engage to procure for him the 
 Waters of Oblivion, which a'-e preserved in a far dis- 
 tant isle, defended by quicksands, monstrous rocks, 
 the perils of the waves, and flames of fire ? Genii 
 are its guardians, and all nature is combined to save 
 it from man's possession. — Such an acquisition, 
 nobles, would manifest to all the earth the supe- 
 riority of your monarch, and the bravery of his 
 subjects. Who is there, then, among your ranks, 
 dares hope to add such lustre to my throne, and 
 such honour to himself? But speak not, nobles, 
 unless a fixed resolve attend your speech. To un- 
 dertake, and not succeed, would wither, and not 
 increase, the laurels we have already won in arms : 
 wherefore, be these the terms on which the noble 
 adventurer issues forth : — Let him be sworn not to 
 turn back till he have the water in possession : let 
 him, likewise, forfeit his life, if he depart not in 
 search of this water ere the remainder of this moon 
 be worn away.' 
 
 As Amurath left off speaking, a general silence 
 succeeded ; and the eves of all were turned upon 
 Sadak. 
 
 The noble Sadak, perceiving no one offer, stood 
 up, and advanced towards the throne. 
 
 ' Descendant of Mahomet, and lord of thy crca-
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 305 
 
 tures,* said Sadak, and bowed before Amurath, 
 ' behold, the hand of thy slave is prepared to exe- 
 cute the desires of thy heart : and here I swear, in 
 this august assembly, never to return back tiil I 
 have procured the waters : and ere three days be 
 passed, shall the face of Sadak be set toward the 
 dangers that surround the fountain of Oblivion.' 
 
 * Thanks, noble Sadak,' said Amurath aloud, 
 * thanks for this proifered service, which my nobles 
 feared to undertake : and I thus swear before the 
 face of Heaven, that when Sadak returns, I will 
 make either him, or one of his family, the second 
 in honour throughout all ray dominions.' 
 
 The beguiled Sadak understood not the base 
 meaning of his lord : but he fell at his feet, and 
 kissed the earth whereon Amurath stood. 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs, seeing the noble Sadak 
 in the divan, passed by his side as he was retiring, 
 and whispered : — ' Wait a few minutes, much-in- 
 jured Sadak, and I will convey into your hands 
 the words of comfort.' 
 
 Sadak was astonished at the speech of the eu- 
 nuch; and now his heart began to misgive Lim, 
 and tumults arose in his breast. 
 
 Before the crowd were dissipated out of the 
 divan, the eunuch slipped a note into Sadak's 
 bosom ; and tlie much-afflicted warrior retired with 
 it to the rocks which are behind the city, and there 
 read as follows : 
 
 * Doubor, who oweth his life to the generous in- 
 terposition of thy father Elar, is distressed for his 
 friend. Alas ! noble Sadak, Kalasrade is in the 
 
 royal seraglio, and Amurath is what my hand 
 
 dare not write ! He, alone, who has undertaken to 
 procure the Waters of Oblivion, is able to enter 
 the seraglio of Amurath. Doubor has no command 
 without ; but should Sadak escape through tiie 
 
 X
 
 306 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 Janissaries, and scale the wall at the eastern part 
 of the garden, Doubor will this night watch his 
 approach, and convey him to the apartments of 
 the wretched Kalasrade, May Alia forbid that the 
 life which Elar saved, shall be sacrificed by the 
 imprudence of Sadak !' 
 
 ' O Mahomet, the prophet of the just!' said 
 Sadak, as he read the scroll of Doubor, the chief 
 of the eunuchs, ' is it possible that Amurath hath 
 done this wrong, to the hand which raised him? 
 Was it for this I covered him with the shield of 
 strength in the day of battle? Was it for this I 
 plunged in the rapid stream, and bore him, breath- 
 less, to the distant rock, when he fled from the face 
 of his enemies to the sea of Azoph? Who recon- 
 ciled Amurath to his mutinous Janissaries, when_, 
 offended at his avarice, they demanded the plunder 
 of Lepanto? Wiio preserved him from the fury of 
 Irac, the rebellious son of Porob, who endeavoured 
 to depose him in the seraglio of his ancestors ? 
 Who, but that man whom he hath basely robbed 
 of all his substance, — plundered of Heaven's best 
 treasure, the lovely Kalasrade, — and betrayed into 
 a rash vow to leav-e the Othman empire and his 
 just revenge, to seek, in distant seas, the various 
 countenance of death? But what revenge could 
 Sadak meditate against the blood of his prince ? 
 would he wish to make his private injuries the 
 cause of public shame ? would he strive to glut his 
 malice on the ruins of the faith of Mussulmen, and 
 the Othman majesty? And yet, O soul of life! 
 O beauteous and constant Kalasrade ! shall Sadak, 
 undisturbed, behold the affliction of his love ? 
 Shall Kalasrade lift up the hand of supplicating 
 virtue, and pour forth in vain the tears of con- 
 stancy, and Sadak stand unmoved at the voice of 
 his beloved ? O Prophet ! holy Prophet ! whither
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 307 
 
 must I turn ? Not against my prince, for whom 
 his slaves live ; not against thy truth, which the 
 blood of the faithful hath planted and nourished 
 on the fertile plains of Europe and Asia. Must I 
 then bear the curses of Amurath? Ah ! that is 
 tenfold death ! INJust I rebel against one who 
 was once my friend, and is still the lord of his 
 slave? — But doubts are vain. The vow I have 
 made in the divan bar all other views : yet, ere I 
 go a voluntary exile from the plains of the faith- 
 ful, I will see Kalasrade, or perish by the hands of 
 the slaves which surround her. She is mine, 
 though the arm of power oppress her ; and Amu- 
 rath, who once held the sacred vow most solemn, 
 cannot blame that love which leads me to my law- 
 ful treasure.' 
 
 These reflections fixed Sadak in his resolution of 
 attempting to enter the seraglio ; and he returned 
 to the city in order to procure such things as might 
 be necessary to assist him in his undertaking. 
 
 Going to the Bezestein, he ordered an iron to be 
 made with five hooks, and an eye in the centre ; 
 and at the silk-merchant's bought a cord of silk 
 fifty feet in length : he also purchased a small iron 
 trowel and a poniard. 
 
 Having these things in his possession, in the 
 evening he went down to the water-side, between 
 Pera and Constantinople; and suddenly unloosing 
 a small boat, he launched it into the Gulf of Kera- 
 tins, and swiftly rowed to Riscula, which is on a 
 rock near the shore of Asia, facing the eastern part 
 of the seraglio. 
 
 Here the determined Sadak rested on his oars, 
 till the clouds of ni-;lit had shortened the vigilant 
 sight of the Jtinissaries, and the tide was fallen 
 from the walls of the palace ; when, paddling 
 toward the seraglio, he advanced in his boat within 
 six hundred paces of the shore.
 
 308 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 A part of the guard, who were then going round 
 on the beach to examine the walls, halted at the 
 noise of Sadak's oars, and made a signal for a galley 
 which lay near them, to come up. 
 
 The slaves in the galley obeyed the Janis- 
 saries, and, coming alongside the shore, took them 
 on board. 
 
 The Janissaries directed them to row toward the 
 place where they imagined they had heard the 
 paddling of oars; and in a few minutes Sadak per- 
 ceived one of the Sultan's galleys advancing toward 
 him. 
 
 The bold Sadak, pleased at the success of his stra- 
 tagem, gently glided out of the boat into the water, 
 and diving wide of the galley, sometimes rising for 
 breath, and at other times continuing to strike for- 
 ward under the water, he in a short time reached 
 the shore, and landed between Sera Burni and the 
 gate of Topcapu, through which his beloved was 
 hurried by the slaves of the seraglio. 
 
 Sadak, knowing thathis time might not be wasted, 
 (as the Janissaries, finding no one in the boat, would 
 soon return to the shore,) immediately pulled out 
 the iron with five hooks, and the silken cord, and, 
 fastening them together, he threw the hook over 
 the wall, which catching on the top, by means of 
 the silken cord Sadak raised himself up on the 
 wall ; then, again fixing the hook on the inner 
 side, in such a manner as he might loosen it from 
 the wall, by shaking it backward and forward, he 
 quickly descended into the gardens of the seraglio, 
 and, unhitching the iron from the wall, with a few 
 shakes of the cord, he took out his trowel, and 
 buried them in the earth ; then, hastening towards 
 a thicket of small trees and shrubs, he hid himself 
 therein. 
 
 Here Sadak had time to collect his thoughts;
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 309 
 
 but he was hardly covered by the bushes, before ha 
 heard the galley on the opposite side of the wall 
 strike agaiust the shore, and could distinguish the 
 voices of the Janissaries descending from its sides. 
 
 By their conversation, he learned, that they were 
 alarmed at finding a boat without any one in it ; 
 and as they hastened toward the gate Topcapu, he 
 doubted not but they would shortly raise the guards 
 of the seraglio. 
 
 In the midst of these thoughts, Sadak heard the 
 fall of feet approaching toward him ; and presently 
 one drew near the bushes, and was entering into 
 the very place where Sadak was concealed. 
 
 Although the frame of Sadak was more disturbed 
 at the approach of the stranger than it had ever 
 been in the field of blood, yet he neglected not to 
 draw his poniard ; and as the stranger entered 
 among the bushes, he seized him, and was about to 
 strike the steel into his heart ; when Doubor cried 
 out, ' O Sadak, destroy not thy friend !' The spirits 
 of Sadak having been hurried by the noise of the 
 Janissaries, made him forget the appointment of 
 Doubor to meet him in the garden : but when he 
 perceived it was the grateful eunuch, he dropped 
 the poniard on the earth, and said : ' O friend of my 
 bosom ! forgive tlie fears and the distraction of the 
 miserable Sadak, who in mad fury had nearly sacri- 
 ficed his comforter, and driven the poniard of sus- 
 picion intothe breastof the tender-hearted Doubor!' 
 
 ' Noble Sadak !' answered the chief of the eu- 
 nuchs, ' I wonder not at your suspicions ; it is a 
 hard task for the brave to dissemble, or for the ge- 
 nerous warrior to descend to the dark deeds of a 
 midnight robber. But let us hasten toward the se- 
 raglio : yet, before we issue forth out of this thicket, 
 let me help you to dress yourself in the habit of a 
 mute ; the garments are hidden in the thicket be-
 
 310 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 hind : and I was coming to see whether they were 
 safe against your arrival, when you seized me by 
 the arm. 
 
 Sadak was pleased at the proposal of the chief of 
 the eunuchs ; and, stripping himself, he left his 
 own garments concealed in the thicket, and, putting 
 on the mute's habit, followed Doubor toward the 
 female seraglio. 
 
 Doubor advancing toward the seraglio, made a 
 sign for the eunuchs, which were placedat the gates, 
 to retire ; and entering, he bade his mute follow 
 him to the apartments of Kalasrade. 
 
 The joy of Sadak, at the thoughts of again view- 
 ing his beloved, and his fears, lest any unfortunate 
 disaster should discover him, raised alternate 
 storms in his breast: but the mighty warrior con- 
 cealed from his countenance the strong passions 
 which beset his heart. 
 
 After passing through several galleries, the chief 
 of the eunuchs arrived at the apartment of the 
 beauteous Kalasrade, and was about to enter, when 
 he perceived the royal sandals at the door. 
 
 Doubor started back at the sicht. — * O Maho- 
 met!' said he in a whisper, ' Amurath is risen in 
 the dead of the night, and entered into Kalasrade's 
 apartment.' 
 
 The words of Doubor were as deadly poison to 
 the heart of Sadak ; the cold hand of death chilled 
 his astonished blood, and his weak nature could 
 scarcely sustain the mighty shock. 
 
 ' Oh, Doubor! Doubor I' said the wretched son of 
 Elar, ' support my conflicting frame ! O Doubor, I 
 am unable to bear this tenfold death ! — Ah tyrant ! 
 ah, my friend ! if I strike, thou must perish : if I 
 withhold my arm — O wretched Sadak, wander not 
 into that hell of thought ! O Mahomet ! O Alia ! 
 have I deserved this torture ? If I have, strike with
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 311 
 
 thy merciful thunder this rebellious heart! If not, 
 strengthen and support the wretch whom thou art 
 pleased to load with ill past human thouglit! O 
 that I were a worm, to be trodden under a giant's 
 foot ! O that I were a toad, and my food corruption ! 
 that I were a camel in the desert, or an ass in the 
 mill ! that I was aught but Sadak, the accursed of 
 his Prophet !' 
 
 As the miserable Sadak thus poured forth his 
 griefs in the bosom of his friend, the affrighted 
 Doubor pressed his head, and covered it with the 
 folds of his garment, that the voice of the wretched 
 Sadak might not pierce the walls of the apartment, 
 and raise the suspicion of Amurath : — But his ut- 
 most precaution could not prevent the sighs of 
 Sadak, whose wounded and afflicted soul was as the 
 wearied boar of the forest, when pierced with the 
 dartsand javelins of a thousand hunters. 
 
 In the midst of his sighs, the doors of the apart- 
 ment opened ; Amurath came forth ; and Sadak, 
 leaving the bosom of Doubor, fell with his face 
 toward the earth. 
 
 • Doubor,' said the Sultan, ' where hast thou 
 been ? and where are thy guards ? Who is that 
 mute whom tbou didst cherish in thy bosom ? and 
 why art thou here in the dark hour of night?' 
 
 * Lord of princes,' answered Doubor, ' when my 
 master retired to his sofa, I went to examine the 
 guard of eunuchs, and to see that thy slaves were 
 faithful to thy trust; and at my return, perceiving 
 that my lord was arisen, I called this mute to me, 
 as I was unwilling to disturb my Sultan with the 
 feet of his guards ; and followed thee to the apart- 
 ment of the ever-blooming Kalasrade. But as I 
 tarried here, waiting lest my lord should have any 
 command for his slave to execute, the poor mute 
 fell sick, and in pity I took him to my bosom ; as
 
 312 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 I have learned from the kindness which my lord 
 shows his slaves, to copy, as far as my poor and 
 weak capacity will perniit, the brightest virtues of 
 the favourite of Alia.' 
 
 * Doubor,' said Amurath, ' I commend your 
 care : but since the slave is ill, let him be sent to 
 Kalasrade to nurse ; the haughty fair one despises 
 my condescending love, and the embraces of the 
 son of Othman are grievous to the slave of Sadak : 
 wherefore, Doubor, see you place this slave on the 
 sofa of Kalasrade ; and let her fancy him her 
 lover, till she fling her proud arms avound him, 
 and call him Sadak and her lord.' 
 
 The heart of Doubor rejoiced at the words of 
 Amurath ; but he concealed his joy and said: — 
 
 * Will tlie glory of the Othman race first suf- 
 fer me to attend him to the apartments of my 
 Sultan?' 
 
 * Doubor,' said Amurath, sternly, 'have I saifl, 
 and shall I recall my words? Slave, obey me in- 
 stantly, and force this wretch into Kalasrade's 
 arms.' 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs, laying his hand upon 
 his breast, bowed down, and said, ' The will of 
 Amurath is the law of his slave.' 
 
 No sooner was Amurath gone, than the chief of 
 the eunuchs raised up Sadak, and said : — 
 
 'Son of Elar, friend of my bosom, first in my 
 esteem, arise and perform the commands of Amu- 
 rath.' 
 
 * Yes, faithful, generous Doubor, thou balsam of 
 peace to my wounded soul ! I will arise, and bless 
 the Great Fountain of Happiness, for the merciful 
 change he has wrought in my favour.' 
 
 As the happy Kalasrade beheld the features of 
 her lord under the di>2uise of a mute, she spransr 
 forward, her eyes enlivened by the transports of
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 313 
 
 her heart, and, with a fond surprise, half fearful, 
 half overjoyed, she pressed him in her arms. 
 
 ' Ah, lovely Sadak,' said she, 'joy of my soul, 
 how has thy Kalasrade sighed and despaired at 
 thy absence ! I have been, my Sadak, like the 
 widowed dove ; but now I am as the deer which 
 bounds on the sunny plain; as the bird which sips 
 the dew of the morning among the blossoms of the 
 orange-grove.' 
 
 In the midst of these passionate expressions, 
 Sadak heard the feet of a multitude in the gallery, 
 and the doors of the apartment immediately burst- 
 ing open, the guard of the seraglio entered and 
 seized on the unhappy pair. 
 
 Sadak, unmindful of himself, endeavoured to 
 defend his beloved ; and though oppressed by num- 
 bers, yet he fell upon the ennuch who held his 
 Kalasrade, and tore him to the ground. 
 
 But the resistance of Sadak was vain ; the guards 
 parted him from Kalasrade, and loaded him with 
 chains. 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs, having secured the 
 distressed Kalasrade, gave her into the custody of 
 the eunuchs ; and Amurath commanded the guards 
 to put the bow-string upon Sadak. 
 
 The wild miserable Kalasrade, at the sigh tof the 
 bow-string, screamed aloud, and fell into the arms 
 of the eunuchs; her fixed eyes were dilated with 
 madness, and her teeth shook with the agonies of 
 death. 
 
 Amurath saw the affecting change with wild 
 emotion, and, fearful lest the soul of Kalasrade 
 should escape, ordered the slaves to release Sadak 
 from the bow-string. 
 
 * Sadak,' said Doubor, as the mutes retired, * be- 
 hold the messenger of the Sultan's mercy, who 
 spares thy forfeit life, because thy vow has dedi- 
 cated it to thy master's service !'
 
 314 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 ' If by thy master's gift alone, O treachorons 
 eunuch, I am to possess my life,' said Sadak 
 sternly, ' he sends his mercy to a thankless slave. 
 — Mercy ! dare the tyrant thus miscall the malice 
 of liis heart ? It is mercy, then, to defile my better 
 life, and send the poor remainder an outcast vaga- 
 bond, upon a pander's errand? Go, obsequious 
 eunuch, return to thy proud pampered master, and 
 tell him, Sadak wants not his life upon such 
 slavish terms.' 
 
 * Alas ! unfortunate Sadak,' answered the chief 
 of the eunuchs, ' what will the big word avail 
 thee ? When Amurath perceives that you mean 
 not to execute the vow you have made, he will 
 hold himself no longer bound by that oath the 
 duteous Kalasrade has extorted from him.' 
 
 ' Slave,' returned Sadak, 'I understand thee not; 
 there is a show of friendship in thy speech, and yet 
 methinks, I have more to fear when the wily ser- 
 pent glides beside me, than when his angry hiss 
 timely proclaims a generous defiance.' 
 
 'The friendship of humanity,' said Doubor 
 coolly, ' I owe to all ; nor is my heart sufficiently 
 revengeful even to crush the ungrateful adder that 
 stings me while I cherish him. — But, Sadak, I 
 mean not to gall thee with reproach, but as a friend 
 advise thee to submit, where submission only can 
 yield thee hopes of comfort.' 
 
 * Friendly Doubor,' answered Sadak, pausing, 
 ' I submit : but the time prescribed is nearly 
 elapsed — ' 
 
 ' Fear not,' answered Doubor ; ' already orders 
 are given to equip you ; and ere night, you shall be 
 conveyed to one of the Othman ships, with an able 
 commander to steer you to the destined spot. But 
 I can say no more ; Amurath expects your answer, 
 uud I haste to proclaim your obedience.'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE* 315 
 
 S;iflak now began to relent, and he accused his 
 heart, in suspecting the integrity of the chief of the 
 eunuchs.— But Doubor was fled, and Sadak left 
 alone in the dungeon of the seraglio. 
 
 ' O Alia !' said the wretched Sadak, ' to thy all- 
 just protection, I commit my faithful Kalasrade ; 
 thou, who overrulest the princes of the world, canst 
 secure her in the fiery trial : relying on thy arm, 
 she shall stand as the water-fowl on the rock, and 
 see the tempestuous billows of the ocean spend 
 their vain force beneath her, unable to wash with 
 their rude waves the surface of her dwelling 
 ])lace.' 
 
 The chief of the eunuchs, having declared to 
 Amurath the obedience of Sadak, waited till the 
 evening; when, entering the dungeon with the 
 guards of the seraglio, they conveyed Sadak 
 through the Water-gate, to the ship which was 
 prepared to sail in quest of the Waters of Oblivion : 
 neither had the noble Sadak, by reason of the 
 attendant guards, any opportunity of expressing 
 his gratitude to I>oiibor, the chief of the eunuchs. 
 
 As soon as Sadak was embarked, the ship set 
 sail ; and the noble son of Elar found that the cap- 
 tain of the ship was a Christian renegado ; for 
 Doubor had in vain sought after one of his own 
 nation who was sufficiently skilled in navigation to 
 perform the voyage. 
 
 For several days, the ship ran swiftly before the 
 wind, and hurried the unfortunate Sadak from 
 the place of his beloved, as the vulture bears in his 
 talons the panting lamb from its mother's teats. 
 
 But these winds were, after a short time, suc- 
 ceeded by a calm ; ia which, being detained from 
 their }>urpose, and a small gale afterwards arising, 
 the captain of the vessel put into the island of 
 Serfu,and there continued for two months^neither
 
 316 SADAK AND KALASRAIJE. 
 
 siifFcring his men to land, nor permitting the na- 
 tives to enter his ship. 
 
 Sadak, though astonished at the behaviour of 
 Ochari the captain, yet attempted not to leave the 
 ship, but spent his time chiefly in solitude and 
 contemplation. 
 
 A small vessel arriving from Constantinople, at 
 length brouglit the captain the orders he expected ; 
 and, the wind being favourable, he hoisted his 
 sails and steered for the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 And now they were passing the island of Kirigou, 
 when a storm arose, and, after many days buffeting 
 against the wind, obliged them to sail into the bay 
 which embosoms the city of Koron. 
 
 It was in vain the citizens made signs for the ship 
 to steer away from their port ; the swelling ocean, 
 and the fierce winds united, drove them precipi- 
 tately on the beach; and, every one being terrified 
 by the storm, they hastened on shore, leaving the 
 ship at anchor, near the beach. 
 
 ' Unhappy mariners I' said an aged citizen to 
 them, as they walked up the beach, ' you have 
 escaped the womb of the sea, to be buried in this 
 contagious city.' 
 
 The mariners hung down their heads at this 
 dreadful declaration : and Sadak perceived that 
 the plague was raging in the city of Koron. 
 
 What first engaged his attention were two youths, 
 who were kneeling on the ground beside an aged 
 body, who was just sending forth his last pestife- 
 rous breath, as a deadly legacy between his chil- 
 dren. Their pious tears and their duteous attention 
 to the expiring sage, mixed with a submissive 
 resignation to the will of Alia, struck the soul of 
 Sadak, long before he perceived they were the sons 
 of his strength, who were performing the last sad 
 offices to Mepiki, the father of Kalasrade.
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 317 
 
 * My children, my duteous children/ said Sadak,. 
 * may Alia bless your pious care ! ye are indeed 
 the sons of Sadak, and the offspring of Kalasrade ; 
 and your father is better pleased to see you thus 
 active in this vale of death, than crowned with 
 the conquest of unnumbered foes.' 
 
 The astonishment of Codan and Ahud at the 
 siglit of their father, did not prevent their attend- 
 ance on the dying Mepiki : they closed the eyes 
 of their departed friend with pious tears, and em- 
 braced with reverence the dead body of their ho- 
 noured ancestor. 
 
 The soul of Sadak was overcome by the piety of 
 his children ; and he, whom embattled armies could 
 not move from his post, became the tender victim 
 of paternal affection. 
 
 ' Author of our being,' answered Ahud, ' thy 
 children have not been exemptfrom the misfortunes 
 of their parents. — Soon after our father left us under 
 the protection of the affectionate Mepiki, a slave 
 hastened toward the hut whither thy offspring had 
 retired from the rage of the flame. 
 
 * * Aged Mepiki,' said the slave, ' retire with the 
 children of Sadak : for behold, the royal Janissaries 
 are advancing, and Amurath hath commanded the 
 progeny of Sadak to be brought before him.' 
 
 ' We issued forth, and covered ourselves from the 
 sight of the Janissaries amonsr the cedars of tlie 
 forest. Here we continued till night ; when the 
 faithful slave besought us to follow him through the 
 forest, to a town about four leagues from the habita- 
 tion of Mepiki. 
 
 'Thinking ourselves too near the arm of Amu- 
 rath, we departed thence the following night to 
 Barebo ; and there continued, till a vessel which 
 was trading to Ismirtookus on board, and carried 
 us to that pride of Asia.
 
 318 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 < We continued in Ismir but a few days j the 
 plague broke out in the suburbs, and raged with 
 such violence, that iMepiki resolved to embark in 
 the first vt^sel that left the city of Ismir. This 
 happened to be a merchant's sloop bound for Koron, 
 in which we came with favourable gales, and land- 
 ed, not long since, in this miserable city. 
 
 ' The mariners who came with us escaped not 
 the pestilence, although they had left the city of 
 Ismir ; they were seized with the contagion as soon 
 as they landed ; and the disorder raged with such 
 violence, that, ere half the moon was elapsed, the 
 whole city srroaned under its wretched influence. 
 
 * The aged Mepiki for some time shut himself and 
 us up in an inner apartment, hoping to escape the 
 contagion : but when he found the deadly disorder 
 had seized him, he commanded us to carry him 
 forth into the open air; which, in obedience to his 
 will, we performed this morning.' 
 
 Sadak, then, assisted his sons in their melancholy 
 office ; and, having covered up the body of Mepiki, 
 he led them to the vessel which Gehari commanded. 
 
 The wind blowing from the land, soon wafted 
 them from the city of Koron ; and Gehari, un- 
 willing to return toward Constantinople, sailed to 
 Medan, and there recruited the number of his 
 mariners. 
 
 From Medan, after a tedious passage, they 
 reached the island of Gomerou ; where refreshing 
 themselves a short space, they steered to the south, 
 tlirough the wide Atlautic, and approaching toward 
 the sun, they encounteied the sultry heats of the 
 torrid zone. 
 
 Sadak, though unacquainted with the sea, was 
 not indolent : the day was spent in instructing his 
 sons; and in the night he strove with manly cou- 
 rage to surmour.t the oppressions of his mind.
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 3l9 
 
 which were aggravated by the thoughts of Kalas- 
 rade's distress. 
 
 Having passed the warmer cHmates, they drew 
 near to the cold regions of the South, and Gehari, 
 perceiving land, steered liis vessel towards the 
 shore, and anchored at a small distance from a 
 beautiful island. 
 
 Here they found the blessings of plenty ; and the 
 mariners, quickly recovering from the disorders of 
 the sea, were enabled to pursue the directions of the 
 bold Gehari, who stayed no longer than was neces- 
 sary to refit his vessel and renew his stores. 
 
 From this island tliey sailed toward the Straits 
 which divide the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean. 
 But as they approached the land the wind arose, 
 and the sea beat in tempestuous billows against the 
 vessel of Gehari. 
 
 The mariners in vain pointed their vessel to the 
 "West ; her sides shook, as fearful of the storm, and 
 the ship started from the face of the tempest, as the 
 war-horse trembles in the day of battle. 
 
 Sadak beheld the conflicting elements with pa- 
 tience and calmness, until a tremendous swell broke 
 over the ship, and the wave overwhelmed both Sa- 
 dak and his sons. 
 
 The father instantly secured himself by embrac- 
 ing a part of the ship, which saved him from the 
 efforts of the wave ; but Codan became a sacrifice 
 to its violence, and was driven over the sides of the 
 vessel into the tumultuous ocean. 
 
 It was some time before Sadak recovered from 
 the confusion around, as the sea had nearly stunned 
 him in its passage : but when he found his son was 
 torn from him by the swell, and saw him tossed on 
 the billows, the undaunted Sadak leaped forward, 
 and was about to follow, had not Ahud caught his 
 father in his arms, and prevented his intentions ;
 
 320 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 aud Gehari prevailed on his friend to desist from 
 his frantic purpose, as the sea was so fierce, that 
 the ship could scarcely bear the billows that broke 
 around her. 
 
 After some time, the storm abated, and Gehari 
 prepared to run through the Straits into the Pacific 
 Ocean. 
 
 The rest of the voyaj^e passed uninterrupted by 
 the wind or the sea: but the serenity of the 
 weather did but ill compensate to Sadak the loss 
 of his first-born. 
 
 After fifty days' sailing, Gehari discovered a 
 great smoke, and in the night could distinguish at 
 a distance flames of fire. These increased every 
 hour, and so greaily terrified the mariners, that 
 Gehari was fearful they would rise up against him, 
 and refuse to proceed on their voyage. 
 
 Nor were the fears of Gehari groundless : for, 
 at their nearer approach, the curling foam of the 
 waves each night appeared as liquid fire, and the 
 ocean glowed like the melting-pot of the refiner. 
 The mariners aghast, viewed with despair the 
 horrid scene, and the fears which were expressed 
 in their countenance seemed to gather strength 
 from the pale deadly light which flashed on the 
 broken surface of the sea beneath them. 
 
 Overpowered by the gloomy terror, they fell 
 with their faces on the deck, and their captain in 
 vain addressed them with alternate promises and 
 threats. 
 
 Sadak, perceiving the distress of Gehari, and 
 that their purpose would prove abortive, if thry 
 were suffered to persist in their fears, obtained 
 from Gehari permission to arouse them ; and with 
 his drawn sabre, walking into the midst of the 
 prostrate mariners, he thus addressed their coward 
 spirits : —
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 321 
 
 * Sons of Mahomet, and brethren of the truth ! 
 why fall ye thus as the leaves of autumn on the 
 sandy plain ? What conquering enemy cometh 
 against you, whose terrifying aspect you dare not 
 behold ? Or what dangers are these which have 
 subdued the soldiers of our Prophet? Come the 
 iniidels of Europe against us ? or is the all-bartering 
 Christian arisen up in arms to oppose our passage ? 
 If these were in sight, my friends would doubtless 
 arise, and vindicate the faith of Mussulrnen; they 
 would start from tlie slumbers of fear, and put on 
 the manly countenance of war. Shall then the 
 harmless wave affright you, when in sportive gam- 
 bols it imitates the brisk flashes of a livelier ele- 
 ment? Or shall you, who have undaunted seen 
 the ocean's hollow womb, and all its watery caves, 
 now shrink in terror back, when the heavy sea casts 
 its languid smiles upon you? These, my friends, 
 are omens of our safety, and assure us of success. 
 But rise and see me pour this harmless lightning 
 on my hands, and thank our Prophet, that, in the 
 starless night, he makes old Ocean light us on our 
 destined course.' 
 
 Thus saying, the bold Sadak drew from the 
 surrounding waves a bowl of water, which sparkled 
 as it rose, and poured it on his hands : the trem- 
 bling mariners raised up their fearful heads, and 
 viewed with wonder the innocent effect of Sadak's 
 trial, till, satisfied by the experiment, they again 
 ventured to arise, each blushing at his causeless 
 fear 
 
 But a few days' sailing again recalled their fears. 
 The island was now discovered, and in the middle 
 of it a huge mountain, whose summit reached far 
 above the fleeting clouds, where an uncommon 
 volcano vomited forth a wide deluge of liquid fire, 
 which broke forth from the mountain with terrible 
 
 Y
 
 62'2 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 roarings, and a mighty sound, as of winds burst- 
 ing from the deop caverns of the earth. The 
 glowing deluge descended down the mountain in 
 a sheet of fire, and, rushing violently into the 
 sea, drove back the affrighted waves in dreadful 
 liisses from its surface ; and for a long time pre- 
 served its fiery course beneath the waters that 
 *bamed above it. 
 
 The countenance of Gehari was now fixed with 
 astonishment and dread; and he confessed to Sa- 
 dak, that he dared not trust his ship any nearer 
 the island. 
 
 ' Give me then,' answered the undaunted warrior, 
 * a boat, and a small portion of your provision, and 
 Sadak will alone risk the dangers that surround 
 the fountains of Oblivion.' 
 
 'No, my father,' answered the duteous Ahud, 
 ' there is yet one left that is ready to share with 
 thee the dangers of this horrid place.' 
 
 * My son Ahud,' replied Sadak, ' Codan is no 
 more, and the javelins of Amurath have doubtless, 
 ere this, pierced the hearts of thy brethren : if 
 Sadak perish, yet shall his name live in Ahud ; 
 and Kalasrade shall yet have one to revenge her 
 wrongs !' 
 
 ' It is not revenge alone,' answered Ahud, ' that 
 thy Kalasrade will require from her Ahud ; she 
 will ask me also for thee, O Sadak : and when she 
 hears that I refused to share in my father's toils, 
 she will pour on me the imprecations of a heart- 
 broken parent.' 
 
 ' O Sadak,' interrupted Gehari, ' yield to the 
 duteous voice of Ahud, whose presence with thee 
 may haply be the means of both your future safety.' 
 
 Sadak, at length overcome by Ahud and Gehari, 
 consented ; and the unhappy father and his son 
 descended from the side of the ship into the boat
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 323 
 
 which Gehari had prepared for their reception ; 
 while the captain and his mariners poured after 
 them the unavailing tears of friendship and com- 
 passion. The boat was about three leagues distant 
 from the shore when it parted from the ship ; and, 
 the wind blowing fair, Sadak steered briskly for the 
 island of the Waters of Oblivion. 
 
 The nearer they approached, the more tremendous 
 looked the rocks which surrounded the island, 
 against which the sea beat and roared, as if it strove 
 in vain for a place whereon it might rest. 
 
 Being arrived within half a league, the boat 
 struck on a quicksand; and Sadak could neither 
 move it, nor would the treacherous- sand bear his 
 weight, when he attempted to wade forward on its 
 surface. 
 
 After many fruitless endeavours, he took several 
 small boards, which formed the bottom floor of the 
 boat, and, tying them together, made two rafts, 
 which he laid on the sand, and, moving one for- 
 ward, while he stood on the other, he thus made 
 some small progress toward the island. But this 
 was an imperfect attempt, as the raft would bear 
 but one at a time ; and A hud was left a helpless 
 spectator in the boat. To conquer this difficulty, 
 Sadak returned again to the boat, and, by the help 
 of the oars and rudder, he made a third raft : so 
 that Ahud, by following his father's steps, and 
 giving the raft which he stept from to Sadak, who 
 went before him, they with difficulty moved for- 
 ward to the rocks that surrounded the Waters of 
 Oblivion. 
 
 The tide had been several hours falling from the 
 rocks, when Sadak arrived under their prominent 
 horrors; and had left a narrow beach, on wliich 
 he and Ahud rested, after their perilous journey. 
 Here Sadak and his wretched son recruited their
 
 324 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 wearied bodies with such refreshment as they had 
 brought in their garments from the boat, which, 
 though scarcely sufficient for the next day's sup- 
 port, was the only means of living they could see 
 before them ; unless they should be able to scale 
 the overhanging precipices, whose head seemed 
 wrapped in the dark clouds that were gathered 
 around their rugged summits. 
 
 Sadak and A hud, having refreshed their limbs, 
 arose and went about under the rocks in search of 
 some opening which might afford them an entrance 
 hito the island : but ere they could discover any 
 passage, they came in sight of the burning torrent, 
 and were obliged to retire from its destructive in- 
 fluence. To add to this distress, the tide returned 
 with violence around them, and the swelling ocean 
 arose on the beach; so that Sadak and his sou 
 were half-covered by the sea. 
 
 Thus wretched, they waded backward and for- 
 ward on the beach, till Ahud discovered a small 
 cavern in the rock, whose bottom the tide had not 
 reached when Sadak and his son ascended into it. 
 
 In this gloomy cavern, which dripped with the 
 salt tears of the ocean, they obtained a few moments 
 relief: but the ascending swell followed them ere 
 long into the cavern, and, dashing its rude waves 
 against them, drove them on the rugged face of the 
 rock. The tide, however, rose not above them ; 
 but, after a long persecution, retired, and left them 
 nearly exhausted by its rude buffetings ; and the 
 wretched father, and his duteous son, overcome 
 with unnatural toils, slumbered on the sea-weed, 
 which the water had left them for their miserable 
 bed. 
 
 Yet short were the slumbers of these afflicted 
 Mussulmen ; the rocks and the mountains around 
 them were heaved in the night with dreadful earth-
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 325 
 
 quakes, and the island trembled with the adven- 
 turous Sadak and his son, as the wounded elephant 
 shakes the tottering turret in the armies of the van- 
 quished. The sea, agitated by contending winds, 
 rose in wild fragments to the clouds ; and meteors 
 gleaming through the troubled air, cast a horrid 
 light upon the watery profound, where monsters, 
 rising on the scattered waves, stirred up a new com- 
 motion, and waged bloody war among themselves, 
 increasing still the terror of the night with their 
 discordantroarings, which the concave echoingrocks 
 again repeated ; and, over all, the thunders from 
 above joined in the general discord. 
 
 ' Ahud,' said Sadak, starting from his sleep (as 
 he beheld the horrid scene before him), ' such 
 would all nature be, were evil spirits masters of 
 our fate : but fear not, Ahud ; these gloomy rocks 
 hide not this disordered prospect from our Pro- 
 phet's sight: He, through the tumult, looks on us, 
 and watches, lest our faithless spirits sink from 
 their just dependence upon Alla's power.' 
 
 ' True,' answered the duteous Ahud, ' O r.oble 
 parent ! and the man whose righteous heart obeys 
 the distates of his God, may calmly view these de- 
 solated scenes.' 
 
 ' In us,' replied Sadak, ' whose slight frames 
 were fi)rmcd to tremble at every shock, these 
 \isions must awaken fear and horror : but the 
 tumults of the whole ocean, and the crush of the 
 wide earth itself, would be less disgustful to iha 
 blessed Alia than the rebellious workings of a 
 wicked heart, though hidden beneath tlie gay trap- 
 pings of a voluptuous infidel. A wicked soul, O 
 Ahud, is more dark and tumultuous than these 
 horrors that surround us : yet often doth the 
 coward run with terror from the lightning's flash, 
 or even from an insect's presence, when he dare
 
 326 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 cherish in his bosom the most dreadful of mon- 
 sters, a disobedient and rebellious spirit!' 
 
 But, in the midst of his religions expressions, the 
 afflicted Sadak could not prevent some fears that 
 arose in his mind, when he reflected on the exposed 
 situation of his beloved Kalasrade ; who, since her 
 lord's departure from the seraglio, had suffered far 
 greater terrors from oppression and lust than Sa- 
 dak had experienced from contending elements. 
 
 For several days she was permitted, without mo- 
 lestation, to mourn the fate of her Sadak, who she 
 feared would be secretly destroyed by the malice 
 of Amurath. 
 
 But the vile Amurath could ill brook his absence 
 from Kalasrade ; every day he sent for Doubor, 
 to inquire how she bore the loss of Sadak ; and, 
 but for the prudent interposition of the chief of 
 the eunuchs, he would have teazed the fair one 
 every hour with his offensive solicitations. 
 
 One day Doubor, leaving the apartments, found 
 the seraglio in confusion. The rebel Janissaries 
 proclaimed aloud in the courts the tyranny of 
 Amurath, and their leaders demanded the brave 
 Sadak at the hands of their monarch. 
 
 Doubor, in obedience to Amurath, endeavoured 
 to go forth among the tumultuous Janissaries; 
 but, in their rage, they would suffer none to speak, 
 unless the brave Sadak was delivered unto them. 
 
 Doubor returned with pale looks to Amurath's 
 apartment. 
 
 • My lord,' said the affrighted eunuch, * it is vain 
 to stem the torrent. Your enemies increase each 
 moment ; and, unless Sadak is delivered to them, 
 they vow revenge on thee and all thy slaves.' 
 
 ' Then, Doubor,' said Amurath, falling, ' I am 
 lost indeed ; and life, dear precious life, like a 
 departing friend, will take a short farewell of me.'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 32? 
 
 * Glory of the Othman race !' answered Doubor, 
 * suffer not your fears to interrupt your safety ; but 
 send some slave among the Janissaries, and pro- 
 mise, in a few hours, to give them Sadak : in the 
 mean time, I will remove thy best effects through 
 the Water-gate ; and we may fly to some neigh- 
 bouring city, where thy loyal subjects shall still 
 defend their Sultan against these bold, undaunted 
 rebels.' 
 
 * Friendly Doubor,' said Amurath, ' thy words 
 recall my sinking spirits : and, Doubor, neglect not 
 among my mutes and slaves to carry fair Kalasrade 
 with thee.' 
 
 The honest eunuch sighed at his master's words : 
 but, in such perilous circumstances, be thought 
 obedience was a double virtue. 
 
 Willi the fair Kalasrade, wondering at her fate, 
 Doubor conveyed her daughter Rachal to the shores 
 of Asia ; whom Amurath soon followed, disguised 
 like a mute, among the slaves of the seraglio. 
 
 The faithful Doubor led the royal family to Iz- 
 nimid, and there proclaimed the arrival of Amurath, 
 and the rebellion of the Janissaries. 
 
 Abdulraham, the Governor of Iznimid, imme- 
 diately assembled the troops of the province ; and, 
 the royal standard being displayed, the army of 
 Amurath increased daily. 
 
 During these preparations, Kalasrade was con- 
 fined in the women's apartments of Abdulraham 's 
 palace, and the little Rachal was suffered to attend 
 on her wretched mother. 
 
 The Janissaries of Constantinople having chosen 
 the brave Boluri for their general, after they were 
 apprised of the departure of Amurath, resolved to 
 march to Iznimid to attack the royal troops, before 
 they were sufficiently strengthened by tlxc neigh- 
 bouring provinces.
 
 328 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 The governor, Abdulraliam, went out to meet 
 the forces of Boluri : but t!ie battle soon proved 
 favourable to the rebels, and messengers arrived 
 from the defeated Abdulraham, advising Amurath 
 to leave Iznimid and fly to some other city. 
 
 Boluri, elated by his suecess, the next day 
 marched to Iznimid : but the royal tyrant was fled 
 to a neiirhboiiring castle, with a number of friends 
 who came too late to join the forces of Abdulraham. 
 Here, in a place defended by nature, the Sultan and 
 his family remained several months; during which 
 time, the rebels were unable to force the defenders 
 of Amurath from their impregnable castle. 
 
 A long and fati<ruing siege succeeding, many of 
 the Janissaries grew tired of a war where there 
 were no hopes of plunder ; and Boluri, fearful that 
 Amurath might recover all, if suffered to depart 
 from the castle, would not listen to the advice of 
 his soldiers, who wished him to rove over the 
 provinces of Asia, and plunder those who would 
 not acknowledge his authority. 
 
 This misunderstanding produced discontent in 
 the rebel army ; and many of the officers, seeing 
 there was little prospect of plunder under Boluri; 
 secretly offered to give him up, if Amurath would 
 pardon his Janissaries. 
 
 Amurath with great joy accepted the unexpected 
 terms ; Boluri was privately strangled in his tent : 
 and the Janissaries laid down their arms at the feet 
 of Amurath. 
 
 The royal monarch, being thus reinstated, forgot 
 his obligations to those who had betrayed Boluri; 
 and he commanded the ringleaders of the rebel 
 army to be destroyed. 
 
 Thus secure from a second insurrection, he 
 marched back at the head of his army to Constan- 
 tinople; and, soon reducing the rebellion there^
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 329 
 
 he, in a short time, found himself reinstated in the 
 seraglio of his ancestors. 
 
 But, now forgetful of his former dangers, his 
 heart beat with new passion for Kalasrade ; and, 
 fixed again on his throne, he wondered that a weak 
 oath should so long have wilhholden him from the 
 rapturous possession. 
 
 Doubor, apprised of his master's thoughts, la- 
 boured in vain to prevent the breach of his oath ; 
 and Amurath found that, while his faithful slave 
 stood beside him, he should ever meet with an 
 opposition that he could not brook. 
 
 To remove this obstacle, the vicious Sultan or- 
 dered Doubor to repair on a trifling message to 
 Iznimid, resolving to force Kalasrade to his will 
 during the absence of his officious eunuch. 
 
 Continuation of the Tals of Sadak and 
 Kalasrade. 
 
 While these dark clouds were gathering over 
 the miserable Kalasrade, Sadak and his son were 
 the victims of the storm beneath the rocks of the 
 island of Oblivion : and on the same night that 
 Doubor departed from Iznimid, Ahudand his father 
 weie buffeted by the tempest and the storm. 
 
 But the piety of Sadak, and the submission of 
 Ahud, alleviated, in some measure, the dreadful 
 hours of that night of horrors, till day arose, and 
 chased from their eyes the gloomy visions of the 
 night : but, with the friendly day, returned again 
 the unfriendly tide, buffeting tl.eir bruised limbs, 
 and smothering them with its waves, as the insect 
 which preys upon the plantain leaf is washed by 
 solstitial showers. 
 
 After waiting with patience the reflux of the tide 
 from their cavern, Sadak, unwilling to lose the bene- 
 fits of the day, led Ahud out on the narrow beach,
 
 330 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 while as yet they were forced to wade through the 
 sea ; and, directing their steps towards the left, 
 they endeavoured to go round that part of the island 
 whfch was opposite to the burning torrent. 
 
 This toilsomejourney, though executed with the 
 utmost difficulty and hazard, was yet as hopeless as 
 the former : the black rocks, which had been hol- 
 lowed by the waves, hunij: in rude arch-work over 
 their heads each step they took, and formed a 
 continued barrier, without any interruption, except 
 where the sea broke inward in deep eddies, and 
 formed in the fissures of the rock the giddy whirl- 
 pool. 
 
 Wearied with this fruitless search, the wretched 
 Sadak led his duteous son back to the cavern, before 
 the swelling ocean rose again to exercise its severity 
 on them ; and after having encountered its fury, 
 they gladly sunk into a repose, which lasted till the 
 returning tide obliged them to rise. 
 
 But now, their provision being exhausted, or 
 spoiled by the water, still severer distresses en- 
 compassed them ; and the miserable Sadak beheld 
 his son wasted with fatigue, and overcome with 
 hunger and thirst. 
 
 One drop of wine yet remained in a little vessel, 
 which he had fastened to his sash : this, the tender 
 parent offered to pour on the parched tongue of his 
 afflicted Ahud ; and this, the duteous son refused, 
 and with uplifted hands pressed the vessel toward 
 his parent's mouth. An affectionate struggle en- 
 sued, and the duties which arose from nature pre- 
 vailed over nature ; till Ahud, receiving strength 
 from the dictates of duty, started up, and, before 
 his father was aware, suddenly forced the liquor 
 into his mouth; then, falling on his knees at his 
 feet, — * Ever-honoured parent,' said the trembling 
 youth, ' forgive the first disobedience I have prac-
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 331 
 
 tised against you ; let these tottering limbs bear 
 "witness what terrors possess my soul, in that I have 
 dared to exert my strengtli against the author of 
 my being ! Pardon,' said he, ' O father ! rather 
 strike me to the earth for my presumption ; and 
 cast from thy sight these rebel arms, which have 
 prevailed against thy reverend image.' 
 
 ' O Ahud, my son ! my son !' said Sadak, stoop- 
 ing, ' Alia shall doubtless bless thy filial prowess : 
 thou hast indeed prevailed, most noble youth ; but 
 thou hast prevailed in duty, and art thy father's 
 superior in the triumphs of affection : yet how dear, 
 O my son, shall thy victory prove, if, to add a 
 few short moments to thy father's age, thou hast 
 suffered the fair blossoms of thine own life to wither 
 and decay !' 
 
 The words of Sadak gave comfort to the duteous 
 soul of Ahud, and the cravings of hunger were 
 suspended while he heard the sweet rewards of his 
 duteous labours : — but short were the pleasures of 
 Ahud ; excessive thirst parched up his lips, and his 
 supplicating eyes looking upwards to Heaven and 
 Sadak, expressed the silent anguish of his heart. 
 
 ' To see thee thus, O my son,' said the distracted 
 Sadak, falling upon him, 'is worse than the death 
 thou hast for a moment driven from me. Oh, cruel 
 Ahud ! I will recall my forgiveness ; for thou hast 
 robbed me of a life far dearer than mine own.' 
 
 As Sadak spake these words, the wretched Ahud, 
 overcome by his hunger, fastened on his own flesh, 
 and greedily sucked the issues of his life: which 
 unnatural relief for a short time subdued his thirst, 
 and he waited with patience till the tide permitted 
 them again to go in search of some escape from 
 their distresses. 
 
 As Sadak passed along the narrow beach, he ob- 
 served the water pouring from a small fissure in 
 the rocks.
 
 332 SADAK AND KALASRADB. 
 
 ' Abud,' said the miserable Sadak, his eyes 
 sparkling with the distant hope, ' let us watch till 
 the tide tnni, and observe whether the water re- 
 turn throu^'^li this fissure of the rocks.' 
 
 Ahud rejoiced in his father's hopes ; and the two 
 descendants of Elar sat waiting in silence on the 
 fiacrmcnts of the rocks. 
 
 The conjectures of Sadak were very right; at the 
 return of the tide, the waters formed a whirlpool 
 and were drawn inwards through the fissure of the 
 rocks. 
 
 ' ^yhatever be our fate,' said Sadak, ' this pas- 
 sage only seems to promise us the means of life ; 
 or on this beach, ere two suns are passed, we must 
 perish by famine; wherefore, Ahud,' continued his 
 father Sadak, ' let us plunge together through this 
 dark eddy, and either meet an end to our toils, or 
 a reward to our labours-' 
 
 ' Father,' said Ahud, faintly, ' let us not attempt 
 together the dangers of this whirlpool : but, as I 
 have less means of life remaining in me than your- 
 self, I will first explore the secrets of this watery 
 cave.' 
 
 Thus spake the duteous Ahud: not that he ex- 
 pected any relief from the uncertain undertaking, 
 but hoping thereby to prolong the life of his ho- 
 noured parent. 
 
 Sadak, hoping his son might succeed, yielded to 
 his entreaties; and Ahud having promised, if pos- 
 sible, to return with the ebbing tide, plunged into 
 the foaming whirlpool, and disappeared from the 
 sight of his anxious father. 
 
 For a few moments, the heart of Sadak was 
 buoyed up with pleasing expectations, and he 
 doubted not but Ahud was already in the land of 
 plenty : but as the wretched parent looked on the 
 foaming whirlpool, and saw its tumultuous eddies
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 333 
 
 rolling ungulphed beneath the rocky bed whereon 
 he stood, his weakened spirits sunk within him, 
 and he cried out in the agonies of despair, ' Oh, 
 Ahud, my son ! my son ! Oh, treacherous ocean ' 
 thou hast robbed me of both my suns !' 
 
 The tide rising, obliged the emaciated Sadak to 
 return to his cavern, where he sat wringing his 
 hands, weeping for his children, and bemoaning 
 the fate of his miserable Kalasrade. 
 
 The calls of hunger also increased with his dis- 
 tress : and he cut the sandals from his feet, and 
 gnawed from them a poor lifeless sustenance, till 
 the waters prevailing, obliged him to combat their 
 resistless fury. 
 
 The next tide, the worn out Sadak returned to 
 the fissure in the rocks ; and although the waters 
 passed out, yet Ahud appeared not on their surface. 
 
 Sadak now waited impatiently the return of the 
 tide, and with the first wave that entered, in leaped 
 the adventurous hero into the jaws of the whirl- 
 pool. 
 
 For several moments he was hurried through the 
 rocks, and bruised and wounded on all sides by 
 their rugged points, till light appeared through the 
 ■waters, and he found himself in a deep cave, sur- 
 rounded with rocks, and open at the top. 
 
 The rocks growing wider and wider, formed an 
 irregular ascent ; and with some difficulty the 
 wounded Sadak crawled upwards, till he had attain- 
 ed to the summit of the rocks. Here he found an 
 extended country, irregularly planted with fruits 
 and herbs, and plentifully watered with little rivu- 
 lets, gushing out of many parts of the earth. 
 
 As Sadak looked around on this delightful 
 prospect, he fell with his face to the earth, and 
 said : — 
 
 ' Alia, thy creature poureth forth his praises
 
 334 SADAK AND KALASBADE. 
 
 towards thee; and the wretch whom thou hast 
 blessed adoreth thee for thy bounty.' 
 
 As Sadak spake these words, the pleasant vision 
 faded from his sight, and lie found himself cast forth 
 by the waters on the beach whence he had leaped in 
 the morning. The heart of the unfortunate war- 
 rior fell at the sight ; and the spirits of Sadak were 
 nearly overwhelmed at the unexpected change. 
 
 'But hold,' said the submissive Sadak, 'if this 
 change Cometh through mydevotions to Alla,blessed 
 be that change ; for Sadak had rather acknowledge 
 his God on the barren rocks, than forget him in 
 the mansions of festivity.' 
 
 As Sadak spake these words, he perceived the 
 eddies of the whirlpool to rise with an unusual 
 swell ; and a female in vestments of gold came 
 forth from its surface. 
 
 ' Righteous Sadak,' said the Genius Adiram, 'I 
 rejoice in thy fortitude, and am happy in being the 
 messenger of thy comfort : but ere I unfold to thee 
 tiie w^onders thou hast seen, permit me to lead thee 
 in security to that place whence so lately thou wast 
 torn, as a sleeper from his dream.' 
 
 So saying, the waters ceased from the fissure ; and 
 the Genius and Sadak, descending into the cave, 
 shortly after attained to the summit of the rocks, 
 where Sadak had before seen the plains of plenty. 
 As Sadak arrived on the plain, — ' Xow,* said the 
 Genius Adiram to him, ' arise, and satisfy thy ex- 
 hausted nature; and then 1 will instruct thee in 
 the lessons of our race.' 
 
 ' But first,' answered Sadak, ' O Genius, since 
 such is human weakness, that even seeming good 
 may be real mischief intended, let me address my- 
 self to that God in whom no one shall be deceived ; 
 for, if I ])artake of these viands. He first whom I 
 serve shall be blessed for tus bounties.'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 335 
 
 As Sadak spake thus, he fell on the earth, and 
 said : — 
 
 ' O Alia ! thy creature poureth forth his praises 
 toward thee: and the wretcli whom thou hast 
 blessed adoreth thee for thy bonnty.* 
 
 ' This noble instance of thy gratitude, and de- 
 pendence on Alia,' said the Genius Adiram, - is even 
 beyond my hopes of thee, O Sadak, thou highly be- 
 loved ! to be brave and duteous when misfortune 
 Cometh, is the lot of many : but few have fortitude 
 to withstand temptations of pleasure and the delu- 
 sions of security ; asjoy approacheth, the knowledge 
 of Alia vanisheth from the minds of mortals: and 
 when the prize is attained, the elated conqueror 
 looketh not on him that bestowethit. The delusions 
 of self-sufiiciency arise out of ease; and man looketh 
 on the undeserved gift, and calleth it a reward, 
 and the price of his merit : but happy is he who re- 
 ceiveth witli thankfulness, and forgetteth not that 
 to Alia belongeth the praise and the glory.' 
 
 ' O bountiful Genius,' answered Sadak, ' though 
 much I am fortified by thy religious dictates ; yet 
 doth my heart pant after Ahud, whom I have lost, 
 and after Kalasrade, whom I left in a tyrant's 
 power.' 
 
 ' As to Ahud,' answered the Genius Adiram, 
 ' his fate cannot yet be unrolled to thy sight: and 
 Kalasrade still suffers for her contempt of that life, 
 which Alia had commanded her to preserve. Ah, 
 poor Kalasrade ! the bird of Adiram can no longer 
 comfort thee ; and the oath of a lawless tyrant is 
 as a flaxen band around the flaming pile ! — But 
 haste and pursue the Waters of Oblivion ; for many 
 dangers yet sunound thee : yet thou hast well 
 learned, to be most aware when perils are unseen. 
 Thy way is onward to the flaming mountain, in 
 which the waters are hidden.
 
 336 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 The Genius Adiram then departed from the 
 sight of Sadak : and after the laborious warrior 
 had finished his repast, he ^valked onward toward 
 the burning mountain. 
 
 Tlie plain whereon he walked led him into a deep 
 valley, overgrown with bushes and trees, through 
 which he broke with the utmost difficulty ; and, 
 when unsupported by the branches of the trees, he 
 fell into watery bogs, where he had perished, but 
 for the broken fragments and boughs which he had 
 gathered to prevent his sinking. 
 
 Having passed this morass, he arrived at a river 
 which ran among the rocks, whose source sprang 
 from a wild cataract, which came foaming with 
 a terrible noise in two divided torrents down the 
 rocks. 
 
 Here the astonished Sadak stood looking on the 
 frightful waterfall in wild amaze ; and, stunned 
 with the rapid dashing of the torrents, for some 
 time paused, unable to pursue his course, or retreat 
 from the dizzy scene. 
 
 No way appeared to pursue his journey, unless 
 he dared venture up the craggy precipice which 
 broke the two cataracts, and divided the roaring 
 currents from each other by its bed of stone. 
 
 Toward this middle rock the brave warrior crept, 
 his nature trembling at the bold determination of 
 his heart ; and although his eyes swam, and his 
 imatriuation tottered, yet the steady Sadak seized 
 on the rock, and arose by degrees on its prominent 
 fragments. 
 
 The foam and the surf of the neighbouring tor- 
 rents washed him as he arose, and the noise of the 
 impetuous currents overpowered him, so that he 
 heard not the fall of several rocky fragments, 
 which came tumbling on every side. 
 
 After his fatigue, and scrambling upward, be
 
 SADAK AKD KALASRADE. 337 
 
 reached a broad, flat, prominent rock; whereon he 
 laid his wearied body, and looked downward on the 
 waves below. Ten thousand colours played in his 
 eyes; and the rock whereon he lay extended, seemed 
 in his fancy, to break, and, falling with him, to 
 tumble headlong through the foaming waves. 
 
 Fear seized his body, though fortitude possessed 
 his soul; and nature, tired of the struggle, kindly 
 stole him from himself, and consigned him to obli- 
 vion ; for a few minutes he lay entranced ; and as 
 he awaked, forgetful of his situation, he rolled 
 over to the brink of the rock, and was falling 
 downward, when he clasped the rock, and secured 
 himself with his hands. Having gained his former 
 situation by long struggle and labour, he ventured 
 not to look down from the precipice he had 
 {•scaped : but, turning his eyes upward, he per- 
 ceived he had yet a third part of the rock to climb 
 ere he could reach the top. 
 
 His perseverance in a short time prevailed, and 
 Sadak stood on the utmost summit of the rock, 
 whence he looked over an extended lake to the 
 burning mountains, whose smoke and eruptions 
 darkened the air, and filled it with sulphureous 
 stench. 
 
 To pass this lake, Sadak determined to plunge 
 into it, and swim across ; but he saw, that, unless 
 he could steer between the two currents, he should 
 be hurled headlong down the perpendicular 
 torrent. 
 
 Unabashed by the danger, Sadak boldly leaped 
 into the flood, and, striking forth his limbs with 
 the utmost dexterity, in a short time gained the 
 opposite shore of the lake. 
 
 Here the hot cinders blown from the mountain 
 fell in black showers upon him, and scorched his 
 raiment and his flesh; till Sadak, gathering 4 
 z
 
 338 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 lar^e bundle of wet flags which grew on the 
 watery banks, tied them with his sash, and placed 
 them over his head, for his security against the 
 burning coals. In this manner he marched on- 
 ward, the hot soil scorching his feet, and the sul- 
 phureous stenches blasting his lungs, till he per- 
 ceived a huge cave, through which ran a rivulet of 
 black water. 
 
 Sadak, doubting not but this was the Water of 
 Oblivion, ran eagerly into the cave, and saw at the 
 extremity of it a fair virgin, sitting in a musing 
 posture. 
 
 At the sight of Sadak, the virgin arose, and 
 welcomed his arrival. 
 
 ' Noble stranger,' said she, ' it is now two hun- 
 dred hegiras since any one has been able to reach 
 this scene of horrors : but to you it is given to taste 
 the Vraters of Oblivion, and to enjoy the blessings 
 of OHr immortal race.' 
 
 As the virgin uttered these words, with a pleas- 
 ing aspect, she drew of the fountain, in a sroblet 
 of ffold, and presented the dark waters to Sadak, 
 who, turning the goblet from him with an easy 
 motion, thus replied to the solicitations of the 
 blooming virgin : — 
 
 ' Fair ket^per of these enchanting fountains, ex- 
 cuse my refusal ; it is not for myself that I seek 
 the fountain of Oblivion : bound by a fatal oath, I 
 come a miserable exile from the Othman throne, 
 to seek a death more cruel by succeeding, than 
 others have found who failed of success.' 
 
 'Then drink of this refreshing stream,' an- 
 swered the virgin, * and forget the curses which 
 Amurath hath heaped upon thy head ; here drown 
 thy former anxious thoughts, and rise, refreshed 
 in the lethargic stream, to untried scenes of plea- 
 sure and amusement; thy sins, thy foUie.*, and
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 339 
 
 thy pains forgot, here, take a blessed renewal of 
 thy life ; the past be blotted from thy care-worn 
 breast, the future all in prospect, all untried : 
 then shall the golden dream of hope, spring forth 
 afresh, and the gay vision of unbounded joy again 
 dance on thy sprightly fancy ; wealth, power, and 
 beauty, rich in ])ossessione, eminent in fame, in 
 ecstacy dissolved, shall all by turns solicit thy 
 divided mind, while not a thought of what thou 
 once hast felt shall e'er again molest thy troubled 
 brain.' 
 
 ' Such pleasures,' answered Sadak sternly, 'may 
 captivate the wretch whose conscience wishes all 
 the past one universal blot: but Sadak has not 
 lived to wish the thread of life unravelled and 
 destroyed. No, virgin ; though great are the ills 
 1 feel, yet this, in every ill, supports my mind, — 
 I have not sought, nor yet deserved, the ills that 
 I sufter.' 
 
 * For the weak child of man to boast,' replied 
 the virgin, 'argues neither sense nor merit : con- 
 ceited, vain, and ignorant, their path of life is 
 stained with error, and per])lexed with doubt ; pur- 
 blind they grope along in the bright meridian day, 
 and every action past they wish undone.' 
 
 ' It is not presuming on a well-spent life, that I 
 refuse your boon,' replied Sadak to tlje virgin of 
 the cave ; ' but conscious of no studie<l ill, I thank 
 my Prophet for his mercies past, and value the 
 great Alla's former gifts too largely, to desire Ob- 
 livion may prevont my future tlianks: whatever 
 afflictions are endured, were meant as blessings, 
 to increase ray faith ; these surely to forget, wei-e 
 base ingratitude. Whatever are the blessings that 
 Sadak has received, these yet reflect new coniforts 
 on my soul ; and these to lose, were little to de- 
 serve the future mercies of my God. No, virgin ;
 
 3 40 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 one moment's recollection of Kalasrade's truth, is 
 more delightful far to me than years of pleasure 
 with a second flame. Though dead, shall I forget 
 thee, Codan ! whose pious cares so lately honoured 
 j;ood Mepiki's grave? Though lost to me, yet 
 never from my mind shall Ahud's righteous image 
 pass. Ahud, duteous name ! who doubtless, now, 
 beyond life's tyranny, quaffs the pure milky 
 streams of paradise above, richly repaid by his 
 kind Prophet for those few drops of life he nobly 
 gave the fountain whence he sprang ! Hail, righ- 
 teous, suffering family of Elar ! And thou, great 
 parent of my life, look down, and curse this un- 
 grateful head, when Sadak wishes to forget thy 
 truth ! Perhaps, partaking of the stream, I might 
 turn Christian, and sell my God for some base 
 bargain : or, like the evil Genii, lift up my rebel- 
 lious arm, and brandish my weak weapons against 
 the Almighty Power.' 
 
 ' Noble Sadak,' answered the virgin, * thou alone 
 art worthy to succeed, who hast learned rightly 
 to value the gift thou hast obtained : take tlien 
 this goblet, and carry to thy prince these Waters 
 of Oblivion ; and fear not the toils of returning, 
 for as soon as thou art in possession of the goblet, 
 thou shalt stand at the gates of the seraglio of 
 Amurath.' 
 
 ' But, gentle virgin,' replied Sadak, ' ere I re- 
 ceive from thine hands this inestimable gift, inform 
 me, I beseech thee, where is the duteous Ahud, 
 the glory of my years ?' 
 
 * Ahud,' answered the virgin, 'h hidden from 
 my knowledge : but let this content thee, that thou 
 alone hast prevailed, and been able to bear hence 
 the Waters of Oblivion.' 
 
 Thus speaking, the virgin gave into Sadak 's hand 
 the golden goblet; and as he received it, the cave
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 341 
 
 and fountain rolled off in a dark cloud from before 
 him, and Sadak found himself at the gates of Amu- 
 rath's palace. 
 
 The Janissaries, who recollected the features of 
 their long-lost general, shouted for joy; and the 
 populace in tumults proclaimed the arrival of 
 Sadak. 
 
 The slaves of Amurath hasted to inform him of 
 Sadak's arrival, and the eunuchs of the seraglio 
 brought him without delay before the impatient 
 Sultan. 
 
 As Sadak entered the royal apartment with the 
 goblet in his hand, he perceived Amurath sitting 
 with a disturbed visage on the embroidered sofa. 
 
 Sadak thrice prostrated himself before him; and 
 Amurath, with a frown, commanded his slaves and 
 attendants to retire. 
 
 ' What, slave,' said the royal tyrant, as Sadak 
 arose, ' hast thou succeeded in thy employment ? 
 or do&t thou bring thy forfeit head a tribute to thy 
 prince V 
 
 ' Lord of the Othman race,' answered Sadak, 
 ' the great Alia whom I serve, hath blessed the 
 cause of thy slave : and Sadak is returned with 
 honour and success to the Othman court.' 
 
 * Curse on thy honours, vain slave !' replied 
 Amurath, hastily; 'and cursed be the pride of thy 
 heart : thinkest thou, that thou shalt triumph 
 over thy prince? or that Alia hath reserved for 
 thee joys superior to those which Amurath 
 possesses ?' 
 
 ' The blessings of Alia,' answered Sadak, ' have 
 refreshed my heart ; and the bounteous smile of 
 my all-gracious Maker, hath enlightened my soul 
 in every horror 1 have passed.' 
 
 * Blasphemous slave,' said Amurath, rising in 
 haste, ' thou liest ! Alia meant not to bless thee
 
 34*3 SADAK AND KALASRADE, 
 
 beyond thy lord, but has buoyed up thy heart with 
 treacherous hope, to make thy disappointment 
 greater. Yes, slave, thy master has resumed him- 
 self, destroyed thy children, and blessed Kalasrade 
 with these outstretched arms, that thou raightest 
 curse thy God and die !' 
 
 * Hast thou prevailed, thou tyrant?' said Sadak, 
 trembling: ; ' then welcome the black contents of 
 this infernal bowl ; for now, oblivion is all I ask.' 
 
 * Slaves,' said Amurath, clapping his hands, 
 ' seize from the frantic slave that precious bowl I 
 it were luxury too great for him to taste, and to 
 forget.' 
 
 As Amurath uttered these words, the slaves of 
 the seraglio entered, and wrested the goblet from 
 the struggling Sadak. 
 
 * Give me, or this, or death,' saidS adak to the 
 slaves around him. 
 
 ' No, pious wretch,' answered Amurath, Mt is I 
 alone huve blessings for thy heart ; chained to a 
 damp dungeon's side, each day will 1 visit, and 
 provoke thy memory with all the joys I lately 
 tasted in thy Kalasrade's arms; when, with amo- 
 rous struggles, the half-reluctant female gave 
 denial to my fondness, and increased my flame ; 
 when heaving on love's tumultuous ocean, her 
 breath my gale, her tears my sea, I seemed like 
 the ]iroud Venetian on his holy festival.' 
 
 ' Thy faith, thy oath, thy honour lost; call not, 
 base Amurath,' said Sadak, ' on Alia more: e'en 
 yet, since death and oblivion are denied me, I'll 
 triumph over thee : for, in all the curses that afflict 
 poor Sadak's heart, none can overwhelm his con- 
 science with such a shame as thine.' 
 
 'Slave,' replied Amurath, 'thy speech is free; 
 I love to hear thy pious resignation : but death 
 o'ertakes thee, if again thy words reflect dishonour
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 343 
 
 on thy prince : for think not, wretch, so meanly 
 of me, that I approve of broken vows ; none are 
 so hardened, but must tremble, though they can- 
 not relent : yes, slave, the joys I felt with my fond 
 mistress, leave an irksome sting behind them ; 
 and, while I triumph over thee, I curse myself : 
 but these dull thoughts shall be driven from my 
 anxious breast. The Waters of Oblivion are de- 
 signed for mine and for Kalasrade's peace; where- 
 fore bring me, slaves, the refreshing goblet, for 
 my gloomy soul pants for Oblivion, and I long to 
 sin, and think it virtue. Slaves, give me the gob- 
 let. Now welcome, peace j and conscience, thou 
 base intruder, a long farewell to all thy wretched 
 admonitions ! But, slaves, remember, ere I drink 
 this, Sadak dies.' 
 
 As Amurath spoke thus, he received the golden 
 goblet from the hands of the slaves who had 
 rescued it from Sadak ; and, looking with a fero- 
 cious smile on the wretched husband of Kalas- 
 rade, — ' See, Sadak,' said he, ' how greatly Amu- 
 rath doth honour to his slave : I drink this bowl 
 to be like thee; and fair Kalasrade, having tasted 
 its sweet contents, shall look on Amurath, and 
 think him Sadak.' 
 
 The greedy monarch then raised thegoblot to his 
 lips, and drank off the dark liquor it contained ; 
 which quickly spread its fatal influence through his 
 veins ; — and the disappointed Amurath too late per- 
 ceived, that with oblivion death goes hand in hand, 
 Sadak, surprised, started at the unexpected elfects 
 of the deadly goblet; and the slaves of Amurath, 
 who ran to his assistance as he fell, finding their 
 endeavours to recover him ineffectual, now fell 
 trembling at the feet of Sadak, whom they imagin< li 
 the Janissaries would doubtless place on the Olh- 
 man throne.
 
 944 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 ' Lord of our lives,' said the minions of the se- 
 rag:ho, 'Alia hath justly punished the wretched 
 Amurath for his broken vows; and thy slaves wait 
 thy commands, to cast his wretched carcass forth 
 a prey to the fowls of the air.' 
 
 ' Wretches !' said Sadak sternly to them, ' I seek 
 not the power you are so ready to bestow : let the 
 faithful Doubor be called, that the subjects of the 
 Othman throne may be acquainted with their loss.' 
 
 ' Heir to the Othman glory,* answered the slaves, 
 
 * Doubor, by Amurath's command, is gone to Izni- 
 mid on aifairs of state.' 
 
 * Then,' said Sadak, ' carry forth the body of our 
 departed Sultan, and show his pale limbs to the 
 brave soldiers of the court, to whom (since no suc- 
 cessor by inheritance or will is left) the choice of a 
 jiew monarch falls. As to myself, tell them, I seek 
 no honour. Curst in all I hold most dear, to me 
 honour were a grievous burden. Kalasrade, the 
 virtuous Kalasrade is defiled; and Sadak shall 
 retire forever from the world !' 
 
 The report of Sadak's arrival, and the death of 
 Amurath, was now spread through every part of 
 the seraglio : and while part of the officers hastened 
 to acknowledge Sadak for their Sultan, others found 
 out the melancholy Kalasrade, and declared every 
 c'Tcumstance of the joyful news to the mouruingr 
 fair one. 
 
 * Is he returned?' said the transported Kalasrade ; 
 
 * is Sadak my lord, unnumbered with the dead ? 
 then are my past sorrows like the vision of the 
 night ; and I again shall rise to a joyful day of con- 
 stancy and love : but lead me, instantly,' continued 
 she, ' to his beloved piesence, that I may bless his 
 conquering arms with love, and clasp him once 
 again within these fond encircling arms.' ^ 
 
 So saying, she hastened with the slaves to the
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE, 345 
 
 apartment where Sadak stood, with his surrounding 
 p:uards ; and, flying in transports, she fell at his 
 feet, and bathed his sandals with her overflowing 
 tears. 
 
 Sadak saw her approach with a mixed counte- 
 nance of love and terror; and his soul, divided by 
 affection and resentment, knew not how to supply 
 his tongue with a proper utterance ; but, perceiving 
 her at his feet, the tender wretched husband stooped 
 to the earth, and bowed himself before her. 
 
 ' What i noble partner of my thoughts,' said Ka- 
 lasrade, in amaze, ' art thou dumb with joy? O 
 foolish wretch,' continued she, ' why came I so sud- 
 denly into the presence of my beloved ! My loved, 
 my honoured Sadak, behold thy tender wife, and 
 bless me with one look of love — Alas ! guards,' 
 said she, turning to the eunuchs, as s!ie perceived 
 Sadak still immoveable, with his face to the earth, 
 ' surely the death of Amurath hath not seized on 
 Sadak ; my beloved hath not drunk of the perni- 
 cious goblet !' 
 
 ' O th^t I had drunk thereof!' said Sadak, 
 groaning, ' when I stood before the virgin of the 
 fountain of Oblivion !' 
 
 ' Speakest thou, my beloved?' said the affrighted 
 Kalasrade ; * speakest thou, my beloved ! and not 
 to me ? Oh ! oh ! am I changed, my beloved ! or 
 art thou 720^ Sadak ?' 
 
 The tender Kalasrade shrieked at these words, 
 and fell into the arms of her attendants. 
 
 At the shriek of Kalasrade, Sadak arose in wild 
 haste, and clasped her in his arms. 
 
 * Partner of my soul,' said he wildly, ' look ci; 
 thy much-injured lord ; look up, Kalasrade ; it is 
 Sadak calls thee.' 
 
 *^ost thou call?' said Kalasrade, faintly ; ' dost 
 thou, O Sadak, on whom my soul hangeth, call thy
 
 346 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 Kalasrade back to life ? O Alia, spare me yet, for I 
 am Sadak's!' 
 
 ' Oh, that thou wast !' said Sadak, relapsing at 
 the dreadful thought; 'O that thou wast thy Sa- 
 dak's only; that I could again press thee to my 
 heart, and call thee only mine I' 
 
 • I am, my Sadak, I am only thine,' replied the 
 faint Kalasrade ; ' thine 0!ily could I be, Not 
 Amurath, and all his lawless power, could ever 
 tempt a thought from Sadak's love.' 
 
 ' Wretched Kalasrade/ said Sadak,sternly, * Alia 
 knows, my heart bleeds at thy distress : yet seek 
 not meanly to disguise the dark sins of tyranny and 
 lust ; thou canst not surely be so base to wish thy 
 Sadak in polluted arms !' 
 
 'O Alia,' replied Kalasrade, 'what means my 
 lord? By all our righteous constancy and truth, I 
 swear thou never hast been injured in Kalasrade's 
 love !' 
 
 ' Vain woman,' replied Sadak hastily, ' strive not 
 to deceive me: the lawless tyrant boasted of his 
 crime, and cursed my ears with the description of 
 his injurious lust.' 
 
 At these words, Kalasrade looked in wild amaze 
 at her offended lord : and her eyes, unwilling to ex- 
 press resentment, melted into tenderness and love. 
 
 The constant Sadak saw the sufferings of his be- 
 loved, and his conscience checked him for increasing 
 the distress of his injured wife. — ' Forgive,' said 
 he, running to her, ' forgive, virtuous Kalasrade, 
 the cruelties of thy Sadak: thou camest, seeking 
 ease and consolation from thy lord, and I have 
 doubled the curses of Amurath upon thy much- 
 suffering heart.' 
 
 ' One word, though but one echo, of my Sadak's 
 love,' answered the afflicted fair, ' blots all resent- 
 ment from Kalasrade's heart.'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 3*7 
 
 * Whatever is past, though grating to my soul, 
 thine were the keenest pangs,' said Sadalc in re- 
 turn ; ' but to hold conveise on a public stage, 
 where love, or where misfortune is the theme, but 
 ill benefits the tender sufferer: wherefore, retire, my 
 best Kalasrade; and when the loyalJanissaries have 
 heard my tale, I will come, and weep with thee in 
 mutual wretchedness.' 
 
 The fair Kalasrade bowed at her lord's commands, 
 and left Sadak with the surrounding nobles. 
 
 Sadak, having given audience to the officers of 
 the army, the viziers and the bashaws of the Otli- 
 man court, declined their proffejed honours: but 
 the voice of the multitude prevailed, and he was 
 constrained to bear the weight of empire on his 
 brow. 
 
 The shouts of the faithful rent the air with notes 
 of triumph, when Sadak yielded to his people's 
 supplication. 
 
 In the midst of their clamour, a messenger ar- 
 rived in the seraglio, and declared the approach of 
 Doubor from Iznimid. 
 
 A gleam of comfort shot through Sadak's soul, 
 as he heard the name of Doubor pronounced; and 
 he sent his viziers to welcome his arrival, and bring 
 him into the presence of his friend. 
 
 The faithful Doubor soon arrived; and, having 
 learnt from his friends the wondrous change, fell 
 prostrate at the feet of Sadak. 
 
 ' Since he whom Doubor long revered, is dead,* 
 said the faithful eunuch, ' Doubor rejoices at the 
 public choice of Sadak's virtue to succeed him : 
 yet forgive me, royal master, if Doubor play the 
 courtier but awkwardly before thee : born for his 
 service, I lived in the smiles of Amurath my lord ; 
 and let these tears bear witness for me, I cannot 
 ever forget so great a master.'
 
 348 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 ' Doubor,'said Sadak, sternly, * thou art not the 
 only afflicted soul that Amurath hath left behind 
 him ; deep are his curses stricken on Kalasrade's 
 heart, and woes unutterable are Sadak's portion.' 
 
 ^ Surely, my lord,' returned Doubor, the chief of 
 the eunuchs, ' the mighty Amurath did never pre- 
 sume to break his oath V 
 
 ' Yes, he broke it, slave ; nay, more, and triumphed 
 in his sin,' said Sadak, fiercely ; ' and thou, I fear, 
 hast borne a part in all his vengeful malice. All 
 other evil I with patience bore ; but this extremest 
 cTuelty loads my distracted thought past human 
 sufferance.' 
 
 ' My lord,' answered Doubor, ' permit me to lead 
 thee to fair Kalasrade's apartment : I yet must hope 
 some mystery unravelled hurts your peace.' 
 
 'To soothe with words ambiguous, when misfor- 
 tunes past can never be redeemed, is a slave's pro- 
 vince,' said Sadak : ' but Sadak has a soul not to 
 be lulled by women's tales : for know, tame wretch, 
 I have already seen Kalasrade, and viewed the 
 graceful ruins of my once-loved wife. — O Prophet! 
 Prophet ! where was thine all-seeing eye, when to 
 unhallowed lust thou gavest up the purest of her 
 sex?' 
 
 ' Noble and royal Sadak,' answered Doubor, pro- 
 strate on the earth, ' I beseech you to consider what 
 mighty ills you heap on fair Kalasrade, if, unheard, 
 you cast her from your presence, and accuse our 
 Prophet, whose boundless mercy, like the moun- 
 tain's shade, preserves and comforts every faithful 
 mind.' 
 
 ' Doubor,' replied Sadak, ' thou ever wast to 
 God and man an acceptable slave, and duly tcm- 
 perest submission to thy prince with faithfulness to 
 Alia. I yield, good Doubor ; lead the way to dear 
 Kalasrade's apartments ; and Alia grant success 
 attend our search!'
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 349 
 
 Thechief of the eunuchs, preceding the trembling 
 Sadak, led him to those apartments of the seraglio 
 ^vhere he had been formerly seized by the guards of 
 Amurath ; and, commanding the doors to be flung 
 open, Sadak discovered Kalasrade sitting on the 
 sofa, with her surrounding attendants. 
 
 At sight of Sadak, the beauteous sultana arose 
 with wild distracted looks ; and turning to her 
 slaves, — ' Who is this,' said she, ' that basely apes 
 the majesty of Othman's prince ? Whoe'er thou art, 
 bold slave,' contmued she, ' depart j or, by my 
 beauties, the god-like Amurath shall sacrifice thee 
 to our mutual loves!' 
 
 * O Prophet of the just!' said Sadak, hastening 
 to her, ' what means this wondrous change ? — 'Tis 
 Sadak, my beloved; Sadak, who comes to be con- 
 vinced thou never hast submitted to base Amurath's 
 love.' 
 
 * Submitted, wretch '' said Kalasrade, with an 
 haughty frown ; ' dost thou then call the royal 
 presence of the love-brinfiing Amurath an evil?' 
 
 ' Just, righteous God I' said Sadak, falling back, 
 ' what are these sounds that rack my jealous ears ? 
 Have I then lived to hear Kalasrade prize a tyrant, 
 and despise her lord ? — No ; it cannot be. I see, 
 wild passion rolls her eye, and madness has pos- 
 sessed her brain ; borne down by former evils, and 
 dejiressed by anxious cares, the unexpected change 
 seized too quickly on her soul, and the transported 
 fair one ran to meet me, ere that her mind was 
 calmed by reason or religion. In such a state thou 
 earnest, sweet Kalasrade, to thy Sadak's arms : and 
 when thy fluttering heart, with hasty impulse, de- 
 manded comfort, I gave thee base suspicion, and 
 with rude hand repelled thy tender love ; as, not 
 contented with thy sufferings past, in my first royal 
 act I played the tyrant on my wife, and cursed thee
 
 350 SADAK AXD KALASRADE. 
 
 more than Amurath had done.—But, righteous 
 Projihet, thou hast well repaid my base ingratitude ! 
 Blind as the dark mole, I dared accuse thy won- 
 flrous sight, and in the puny balance which my 
 iixnorant will held out, presumptuous weighed the 
 mercies of my God !' 
 
 The pious words of Sadak were attended with 
 unusual omens: from the left, the vivid lightning 
 flashed, the palace shook, and a thick cloud filled 
 tiie apartment where Sadak stood; out of the midst 
 of which came forward the stately Adiram, and 
 thus addressed the consort of Kalasrade : — 
 
 ' Noble Sadak, the trials of your fortitude are 
 now finished; and Adiram is the joyous messenger 
 of yoin- future peace. The beauteous female who 
 stands before you is not the real Kalasrade, as you 
 will perceive when she shall restore to Doubor the 
 enchanted ring. 
 
 * After your departure from the seraglio, in search 
 of the V^aters of Oblivion, 1 perceived tliat the 
 obligations of an oath could not bind the man that 
 was influenced by revenge, and unmoved by the 
 tender calls of humanity ; I therefore sent, by my 
 little winged messenger, an enchanted ring to 
 Doubor, declaring its virtues, and bidding him use 
 it when Kalasrade's distress should most require its 
 assistance. The friendly Doubor had in vain em- 
 jdoyed both artifice and persuasion to i)revent his 
 master from yielding to his passions ; every con- 
 trivance proved abortive, and Amurath was de- 
 termined to force Kalasrade to his will. 
 
 ' In this distress, I sent the enchanted ring to 
 Doubor; commanding him to put it on the finger 
 of one of the ladies of the seraglio, who should 
 thereby be enabled to personate Kalasrade, and de- 
 ceive the Sultan. Doubor, overjoyed, carried it to 
 the fair and haughty Zurac, who had long pined
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 351 
 
 iinnoticed in the walls of the seraglio. Zurac ten- 
 derly loved Amurath; but her lord had never re- 
 turned her affections. 
 
 ' * Zurac,' said Doubor to the fair princess, 'you 
 are well acquainted with Amurath's passion ; every 
 beauty of the seraglio i> neglected, and Kalasrade 
 alone possesses the heart of Amurath. Say then, 
 fair one, should Doubor give to Zurac the powers 
 of pleasing the mighty Amurath ;— if Doubor should 
 make him neglect Kalasrade, and seek only thee; ^ 
 what reward would the chief of the eunuchs meet 
 at thy hands V 
 
 ' ' He should be,' answered Zurac, ' as the clea* 
 fountain to the desert, or as pardon to the wretch 
 condemned.' 
 
 ' ' Take, therefore,' answered Doubor, 'this ring; 
 and while you wear it, your speech and person 
 shall be as the speech and the person of the 
 favourite Kalasrade: but beware, lest your tongue 
 betray the deception ; and be cautious, and seem- 
 ingly reluctant, that the change of behaviour awaken 
 not in Amurath any suspicions concerning you.' 
 
 ' Zurac readily yielded to the pro])Osals of Dou- 
 bor ; and the eunuch secretly removed Kalasrade 
 from these apartments, and brought Zurac in her 
 stead : but the monarch, fearful that Doubor would 
 seek to prevent his desires, sent the faithful eu- 
 nuch to Iznimid ; and the next day commanded 
 the false Kalasrade to yield to his desires. 
 
 ' Zurac, happy that Amurath should so soon seek 
 after her, made a faint resistance ; and the passion- 
 ate monarch took possession of her charms the day 
 before you arrived from the fountain of Oblivion. 
 
 ' Though born to indulge his passions without 
 control from any human power; yet was Amurath 
 shocked at the wild effects of his lust, and he 
 repented of his folly when you arrived : but the
 
 352 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 
 
 submissive resignation of Sadak, and his superior 
 virtue, stung the soul of the faithless monarch; 
 and yielding to revenge, he poured his malice on 
 your heart ; for which, the vengeance of Alia was 
 levelled at his head, and he was suffered to driuk 
 down the deadly potions of Oblivion. 
 
 ' As soon as Amurath was dead, I appeared to 
 Doubor, who was travelling toward Constantinople ; 
 and I commanded him not to take the ring from 
 Zurac, or to reveal the secret to any one, till he 
 should see me again. 
 
 'And now, Doubor,' continued the Genius, ' be 
 you the messenger of those liappy tidings to Kalas- 
 rade, and prepare her heart to receive her lord ; and 
 acquaint her also with the safety of her children, 
 whom Amurath commanded you to destroy, but 
 wliom thou secretly hast preserved, having stained 
 thy innocent hands with the blood of a kid. And, 
 that no consideration may damp your joys, know 
 that Ahud is living, whose failure on the burning 
 island was the consequence of his filial piety. 
 Having passed the whirlpool, and ascended the 
 rocks, he came to the fruitful plain; and overjovedat 
 the sight of the fruits that grew thereon, the duteous 
 youth plucked several, and, folding them in his gar- 
 ments, he descended down the rocks, resolving not 
 to taste them till he had carried them to Sadak, 
 his father ; but as, through his haste to relieve the 
 fainting Sadak, he neglected to thank Alia for the 
 gift, the evil Genii claimed a power over him ; and 
 the cause was debated between our race and the 
 impious Genii, before the footstool of Mahomet. 
 Long were the contests of each, and every argu- 
 mont was used, which either mercy or malice could 
 suggest; till at length Mahomet 'determined that 
 the youtl) should neither succeed nor be condemned, 
 but that he should be eoiiveycd to the ship of Ge-
 
 SADAK AND KALASRADE. 353 
 
 liari, which was sailing toward the Othman em- 
 ])ire. He therefore will, if Alia permit, return 
 within the space of a year to his parents' arms ; 
 and in compa-sion to the race of the faithful, he 
 shall not ascend to the enjoyments of his brother 
 Codan, till, after thy death, he hath swayed, with 
 fame and glory, the Othman sceptre.' 
 
 Thus spake* the Genius Adiram; and, retiring 
 into the dark cloud, she left the brave Sadak in the 
 royal seraglio ; who, after he had assured the fair 
 Zurac that she should enjoy the honours of Amu- 
 rath's sultana, hastened to meet his beloved. 
 
 Doubor, who, in obedience to Adiram, had im- 
 parted the glad message to Kalasrade, was present- 
 ing her five children to the happy fair one when 
 Sadak entered the apartment. The sight of his 
 long-lost children filled the happy father with the 
 liveliest transports; and the honour of his Kalasrade 
 so happily restored to him, gave new graces to his 
 beauteous consort. Tliey met with tears of joy, 
 running like fountains from their pious eyes: and 
 while in silent rapture they hung entwined in each 
 other's arms, their beauteous children kneeled 
 around and bathed their robes with streams of 
 tears. 
 
 Conscious that passion had formerly transported 
 them beyond the bounds of reason, they both in 
 secret prayed for Alla's grace to moderate their 
 joy ; and, having borne the trials of adversity, 
 they now strove to obey the sober dictates of calm- 
 ness and humility. 
 
 And first, kneeling in the midst of their duteous 
 family, witli hearts and eyes uplifted to the throne 
 of Heaven, they poured forth their pious praises for 
 their Maker's mercies; then, in modest tenderness, 
 indulged in mutual converse, by turns embracing 
 all their children, and blessing their long-lost
 
 854 MIRGLIP THE TERSIAN. 
 
 offspring : and with their tears of joy fell some 
 few piteous drops for righteous Codan's loss, and 
 duteous Ahud's absence. 
 
 These happy duties finished, the royal Sadak arose 
 and went toward Doubor, the faithful eunuch. 
 
 • Friend of my bosom, and great instrument of all 
 my joy,' said Sadak, embracing him, ' not all the 
 monarch of the Othman throne can do for thee, can 
 e'er repay thy generous services! happy am I, to 
 think that Alia will reward thee with the heartfelt 
 pleasures of an approving conscience ; that, Dou- 
 bor, shall be thy chief reward : for worldly plea- 
 sures, command thy Sadak's fortune ; the wealth 
 of all my empire is at thy disposal.' 
 
 The beauteous Kalasrade and her children fol- 
 lowed the example of Sadak, and all with joy 
 acknowledged Doubor's generous kindness. 
 
 The good old man, overcome by the affecting 
 scene, in silence lifted up his watery eyes to Heaven, 
 then fell at Sadak's feet, and would have kissed 
 his sandals ; but the grateful Sadak raised him up, 
 and seated him beside his amiable Kalasrade. 
 
 Serenity and mildness succeeded in the affection- 
 ate interview, where all were happy in each other, 
 and where all acknowledged the source of their 
 happiness in the bounties of Alia. 
 
 TALE VIII. 
 
 Mirglip the Persian; or Phesoj JEcneps, the 
 Dervise of the Groves. 
 
 In the first ages of the Mohammedan faith, the 
 kingdom of Persia was governed by Adhim the 
 Magnificent ; who removed the royal palace from 
 Ispahan to Ragla'i, and enlarged the glories of his 
 habitation beyond the example of all his pre- 
 decessns.
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 355 
 
 The palace itself was built on the mountain Orez ; 
 standing on an extensive plain, which was surround- 
 ed by four walls, two hundred feet in height, and 
 covered with a platform of marble, whereon nine 
 chariots might drive abreast. The northern wall, 
 which looked toward the Caspian Sea, was three 
 leagues in length, and supported by six-and-thirty 
 towers, whose turrets reached one hundred and 
 eighty-two feet above the platform of the wall. 
 
 The wall to the south, which looked toward 
 Ormus, the great citj', was also three leagues in 
 length, and was supported by six-and-thirty towers 
 of equal height with the former. 
 
 The western wall looked towards Assyria, and 
 its towers were in number thirty-and-six, and its 
 length from the first tower southward to that which 
 looked toward the north, was three leagues. 
 
 The eastern wall, which completed the fortifica- 
 tion, looked toward the kingdoms of India; and its 
 towers, and its platform, and its extent, were equal 
 to the rest of the walls, which Adhim had caused to 
 be built around the plain of Orez, the place of his 
 habitation. 
 
 Within these walls, Adhim caused the plain to 
 be divided into gardens ; and, because there was no 
 river near, he employed three hundred thousand 
 men to bring the great river Abutour from beyond 
 Casomabat to the eastern side of the plain, where 
 it entered through the wall under an arch, whose 
 centre reached even to the platform which Adhim 
 had caused to be laid on the surface of the wall 
 which he had built. 
 
 In these gardens, Adhim built a thousand palaces 
 for his nobles and warriors ; and in the midst, on a 
 rocky mountain, whose summit was eight hundred 
 feet from the river Abutour, which was made to run 
 round the mountain, stood the palace of the king.
 
 356 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 And, because the soil of the plain Orez was rocky 
 and barren, Adhim employed fifteen thousand 
 carriasres to bring the fat soil of the vallej's within 
 the walls of his habitation : and he removed the 
 forest of cedars, which grew on the mountains of 
 Esdral, and planted them in the plain of Orez, 
 which he had fortified with walls, and with an 
 liundrcd and forty turrets. 
 
 And now Adhim looked from his palace on the 
 mountain Orez, and his heart leaped withm him 
 to behold the works which he had made ; and he 
 said to his counsellors: — * Who is equal to Adhim, 
 whose buildings are as wide extended as the Cas- 
 pian Sea, and whose works no man can count 
 because of their number V 
 
 And his counsellors answered Adhim and said, — 
 * jVone is equal to Adhim, the viceroy of Alia.' 
 
 And Lemack, his vizier, replied : ' None is equal 
 to Adhim, our lord, whose buildings are like the 
 cities of the eastern princes, and whose palace is as 
 a dc'iirable kingdom.' 
 
 Adhim, pleased with the flattery of his princes, 
 retired to rest ; and the next morning summoned 
 them again to behold the glories of his reign. 
 
 The courtiers seemed to admire the magnificence 
 of Adhim ; and they said, — ' None is equal ta 
 Adhim, the viceroy of Alia.' 
 
 And Lemack, his vizier, replipd : * None is equal 
 to Adhim, our lord, whose buildings are like the 
 cities of the eastern princes, and whose palace is as 
 a desirable kingdom.' 
 
 The enraged Adhim, distrusted at a repetition of 
 the same flattery, which h;!d pleased him so much 
 the day befoie, commanded his courtiers and his 
 vizier to retire; and then went up alone to the high- 
 est battlements of the palace, to survey at once the 
 mighty works which he had lived to complete.
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 3J7 
 
 For a few moments, the extended idea filled his 
 soul; he endeavoured to reckon the flocks and the 
 herds which had been driven into the pastures 
 bordering on the river Abutour ; but they might 
 not be told for number : and lie was pleased to find 
 that it was in vain to attempt to count the inha- 
 bitants of the palaces on the plain of Orez. 
 
 ' But what,'said the discontented monarch, 'shall 
 these glories avail me, if the minds of my courtiers 
 are not dilated with their master's magnificence : 
 Here are objects sufficient to diversify the ideas o 
 my viziers for a thousand years; and yet the 
 words which they uttered yesterday, are to-day in 
 the mouths of my flattering court.' 
 
 Displeased at viewing unnoticed the glories of 
 his palace, Adhim descended toward the women's 
 apartment, and conducted several of his sultanas 
 to the terrace which overlooked the buildings he 
 had erected. 
 
 * Yasdi,' said the Sultan to the female who stood 
 at his right hand, ' observe the glories which sur- 
 round Adhim, thy lord : canst thou reckon, O 
 Yasdi, the glittering palaces which I have built? 
 or canst thou number the multitudes whom thy 
 Sultan has blessed V 
 
 ' Gloi-y of the earth,' answered the princess 
 Yasdi, ' great are the perfections of Adhim, my 
 lord : but 0,if Yasdi, thy slave, might speak ; if 
 she might answer her lord, who is but as the hand- 
 maid of his pleasures ; Yasdi would kneel before 
 thee in behalf of her relations ; and thou shouldest 
 give to the children of my father an habitation in 
 thy palace of the plain !' 
 
 * Yasdi,' answered Adhim, ' thy request shall be 
 granted. But whatsaith Tema to the palaces which 
 i have built V
 
 358 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 ' 0/ said Tema, ' let my lord not be displeased 
 and I will speak. Tema,\'hose soul is love, and 
 whose spirit is fondness for thee, my lord, wishes 
 to enjoy the smiles of Adhim in the grove, and to 
 see none other than the face of her beloved.' 
 
 ' Gentle Tema,' replied the Sultan, sighing, ' 1 
 thank thy love; but I perceive the cottager has 
 charms sufficient to provoke the affections of 
 Tema.' 
 
 ' And what thinks Ahiaza V said the fond Adhim, 
 smiling on his favourite sultana. 
 
 • O my lord,' answered Ahiaza, ' you have 
 brought me to an hideous height; and my head 
 swims, and my fancy totters at the dismal pros- 
 pect.' 
 
 Adhim could no longer conceal his resentment : 
 he turned hastily from the princesses, and de- 
 scended from the terrace into the apartments of 
 his palace. 
 
 ' Let Lemack, my vizier,' said the monarch,' be 
 brought before me.' 
 
 Lemack hurried into the presence of Adhim, and 
 fell at the feet of his Sultan. 
 
 * Since those that have chiefly experienced the 
 bounties of their lord,' said Adhim, ' are most igno- 
 rant of his glories, I mean, Lemack, to go disguised, 
 and hear my praises among my less favoured sub- 
 jects: wherefore prepare the mean clothing of two 
 artizans ; and we will together issue forth out of 
 the palace, and join the conversation of my sub- 
 jects, whose buildings are without the walls which 
 surround the plain of Orez.' 
 
 The vizier Lemack endeavoured to soothe the 
 pride of his prince with a profusion of compli- 
 ments : but Adhim stopped his career with a frown, 
 and bade him not, by a stale artifice, increase the 
 guilt of his former indifference.
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 359 
 
 Lemack obeyed ; and, ere the bat had spread its 
 leathern wing amidst the sable clouds of night, the 
 Sultan and his vizier issued forth in disguise into 
 the suburbs which surrounded the palace of Orez. 
 
 After wandering some time through the streets 
 they were met by two merchants, who had just been 
 paying the Sultan's tax at the receipt of custom. 
 
 'Ah,' said the first merchant, 'these are the 
 cursed artizans, who are employed by the Sultan, 
 to work up that wealth which is squeezed out of 
 our honest employment!' 
 
 * True.' replied the second merchant •, ' but, would 
 Adhim be as easily satisfied as one we are well ac- 
 quainted with, how happy should the merchants of 
 Riiglai live !' 
 
 ' My lord,' said Lemack to Adhim, * let us re- 
 turn; your subjects, I fear, are but little disposed 
 to commend the glories of your palace.' 
 
 ' ^Vevertheless,' answered Adhim,' we will pro- 
 ceed t a prince should be able to hear with indiffe- 
 rence both the good and the bad ; all my subjects, 
 Lemack, are not merchants.' 
 
 As they walked onward, they met several young 
 Persians, intoxicated with the forbidden juice of 
 the vines of Deran. 
 
 ' These,' said Adhim, ' though rebels to govern- 
 ment, will yet speak as they think ; neither pre- 
 judice nor private interest hangs on the tongue of 
 him who is drunken with wine.' 
 
 ' Tell me not,' said the first, ' of the river Abu- 
 tour; was I Sultan of Persia, it should run wine, 
 and the walls of my vineyard should surround a 
 province.' 
 
 * It is indeed a pretty place,' answered the se- 
 cond ; ' and I believe there are better wines drunk 
 without the wall tlian within it.' 
 
 ' It is only fit,' said the tliird, 'for the habitation 
 of our sober fiiend the ivater-clrinker.'
 
 360 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN, 
 
 * Peace,' replied the fourth, ' his fame can never 
 be blown upon by the breath of drunkenness ; and 
 with all my gaiety, I had rather be that sober 
 water-drinker, than the brick-maker Adhim.' 
 
 The Sultan hardly could conceal his rage at the 
 opprobrious epithet which the last young man had 
 bestowed upon him ; but, being determined to pro- 
 secute his search, he left the riotous young men 
 without endeavouring to confute thein. 
 
 Lemack, the vizier, again attempted to divert 
 the intentions of his Sultan ; but, in the midst of 
 his entreaties, they were overtaken by an old man 
 and his son. 
 
 ' Gentlemen,' said the old man, ' be judges be- 
 tween me and my son : the young rogue broke loose 
 from me this morning, and to-night he is returned 
 hungry and cold ; and though I set before him such 
 food as his mother and myself have used from our 
 infancy, yet he talks of nothing: but the delica- 
 cies of those who eat in the palaces of the plains 
 of Orez.' 
 
 ' And my father,' answered the son pertly, 
 ' would persuade me that our nej^hbour lives bet- 
 ter than Adhim the Magnificent; anfl that he who 
 eats little, is happier than the prince of his people.' 
 
 ' Lemack,' said Adhim, ' let these, and the young 
 men, and the merchants be brought before me to- 
 morrow, that we may know what they mean, by 
 preferring tlieir neiirhbour to their prince.' 
 
 Lemack promised to obey, and Adhim still pur- 
 sued his walk. 
 
 And now they met a little family, following the 
 heels of a man and woman in mean attire, who 
 filled the streets with their piteous lamentations. 
 
 ' Pity, good Musselmen,' said the man, ' have 
 pity on a poor family, who are oppressed by the 
 hand of power, and who are ruined, that their ruin
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 361 
 
 may add a needless splendour to those who are 
 capable of sporting with the miseries of mankind!' 
 
 * Of whom do you complain ?' said Adhim, kindly 
 walking up to them. 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the man, ' so wretched are we 
 that we dare not mention the name of our op- 
 pressor ; and but for the bounty of one who this 
 day relieved us, we had perished in the streets.' 
 
 ' Lemack,' said Adhim, whispering his vizier, 
 * relieve them to-night; and to morrow let them 
 be brought with the merchants, and those whont 
 we have already met.' 
 
 ' Commander of the faithful,' replied Lemack^ 
 ^ thy slave will obey the voice of his lord : but the 
 unwholesome dew falleth from the heavens, and my 
 lord will be wet by the sickly steam.' 
 
 * Lemack,' said Adhim, ' we will inquire what 
 means that crowd before us, and then return to the 
 royal palace.' 
 
 ' Alas ! alas!' cried a frantic female, who pre- 
 ceded the crowd, ' Queshad, the faithful Queshad, 
 who supported my tender infants with the sweat of 
 his brow, is no more ! Thy limbs, O Queshad, are 
 broken, yet not by toil ! Thy life is wasted, while 
 as yet ihou hadst strength to go forth to the labours 
 of the day !' 
 
 ' Unfortimate wife of Queshad,' said one, who 
 endeavoured to alleviate her afflictions, ' mitigate 
 thy grief: and know, that Alia hath, for wise 
 purposes, made this trial of thy faith. Queshad, 
 O mourner, was indeed a tender husband to thee ; 
 but Queshad was not thy God. There are yet left 
 those who can pity thy misfortunes, and relieve thy 
 distress : and doubtless the righteous Adhim, when 
 he hears thy husband lost his life in finishing the 
 mighty buildings he hath erected, will pour the 
 bounties of a monarch into thy widowed arms.'
 
 3G-2 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 * Oh mighty Alia/ said Adhlm, sighing in se- 
 cret to his vizier ; ' are these the glories I proposed 
 when I employed all my subjects in such works of 
 magnificence ! O Lemack, Lemack, I fear I am 
 wrong ! However, bring this widow, and her friend 
 who has so justly answered for his Sultan, before 
 mft to-morrow.' 
 
 Lemack employed the greatest part of the night 
 in finding out tliose who were the next morning to 
 appear before Ids prince, while Adhim lay extended 
 and restless on the downy sofa. 
 
 In the morning, the divan was crowded, and the 
 people were in tumults to know for what cause so 
 many prisoners were brought before the throne of 
 Adhim. 
 
 No sooner was the Sultan seated, than Lemack 
 presented the two merchants before him. 
 
 ' Merchants,' said Adhim, ' what! heard not as 
 a prince, I shall not punish as a prince ; only be 
 cautious for the future not to load your governors 
 with undeserved calumnies : and tell me truly, 
 whom vou dared wish on the throne of Adhim you r 
 Sultan?' 
 
 The merchants were confounded at the speech 
 of Adhim ; but, perceiving he had overheard them 
 the night before, they fell at his feet, and besought 
 his pardon : And the second merchant said : — 
 
 ' Alia forbid tliy slave should see any other than 
 Adhim, my lord, on the throne of his forefathers : 
 notwithstanding, I confess, 1 meant to praise the 
 temperate virtues of Mirglip the Persian.' 
 
 ' Lemack,' said Adhim, ' bring forward the 
 young men who despised the law of Mahomet ; 
 and, vizier, remember, that when all these are dis- 
 missed, seek out this Mirglip, and bring him before 
 me.' 
 
 'i"he young men, ashamed of their debauch, fell
 
 MIRGLIP THE PEKSIAN. 363 
 
 with their faces before the throne; and Adhira, 
 gently chiding them for their excess, inquired of 
 them whom they meant to praise for his temperate 
 behaviour? 
 
 The young men returned their thanks to the Sul- 
 tan for his clemency; and the third said, ' JS'ext to 
 our Sultan, Mirglip the Persian is beloved in the 
 streets of Raglai.' 
 
 Lemack frowned at these words, and he cursed 
 the speaker in his heart ; but the vizier dissembled 
 his rancour, and brought the old man and his son 
 before the throne of Adhim. 
 
 ' Whence, O young man,' said the Sultan, * hast 
 thou learned to despise thy parents, and to dis- 
 regard the authority of those who are set over 
 thee?' 
 
 * Prince of thy people,' answered the young man, 
 trembling, * forgive the follies of an inexperienced 
 youth ; and I will ever hereafter frame my conduct 
 from the example of the temperate Mirglip.' 
 
 ' What !' said the king, astonished, * is Mirglip 
 the neighbour of all my subjects V 
 
 ' He was indeed,' answered the old father, ' that 
 bright pattern of temperance which I last night 
 proposed as an example to my son.' 
 
 The old man and his son retiring, Lemack, the 
 vizier, brought the poor man and his family before 
 the Sultan. 
 
 * Of whom didst thou complain last night,' said 
 the Sultan to hira, ' when thy dark words did seem 
 to cast a shadow on thy prince ?' 
 
 ' Forgive me, glory of Persia,' answered the poor 
 man, * if a heart, overloaded with sorrows, poured 
 forth a part of its distress in the ear of its prince : 
 indeed. Commander of the faithful, the miseries 
 which my little ones have suffered , since my cottage 
 in the valley was destroyed, to make room for the
 
 364 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 mighty engines which drew down thy cedars from 
 the mountains, forced me to complain in the bitter 
 anguish of my woes.' 
 
 ' Slave,' answered the Sultan, ' thou mayest well 
 ask forgiveness for thy presumption : but I have 
 resolved not to punish : and even thy slander shall 
 not make void the purpose of my heart : but who 
 was this stranger that relieved thee, of whom thou 
 spakest in such terms of praise ?' 
 
 * Master of my life,' answered the poor man, 
 * to the good Mirglip do I owe my own and my 
 children's existence.' 
 
 ' These slaves,' said Lemack, ' are confederates in 
 their tale ; and some enemy of thy peace, O royal 
 i\dhim, means to set up this hypocrite above his 
 lord.' 
 
 * Tliy surmise, O Lemack,' said the Sultan, ' is 
 just : but let us hear these last whom we met yes- 
 ter-night, ere we proceed to pass on this upstart 
 Mirglip such judgment as his insolence deserves.' 
 
 The poor man and his family being dismissed ; 
 he who had comforted the wife of Queshad came 
 '"orward, with the sorrowful widow on his right 
 hand, whose distresses he endeavoured to alleviate, 
 by representing to her the amiable generosity of 
 Adhim, before whom she was about to appear. 
 
 The disconsolate widow fell trembling at the feet 
 of Adhim : and her words, which strove for utter- 
 ance, were stopped by heaving sighs, and a heart 
 swelled with affliction. The stranger who attended 
 the widow, viewed with compassionate eyes the 
 son-ows of her soul, and with silent respect seemed 
 to wait the commands of Adhim, to speak in her 
 behalf. 
 
 ' Stranger,' said the Sultan Adhim to him, 'I 
 applaud your compassion : and as you have been 
 the support, be also the voice of your female friend.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 365 
 
 * Guardian of our faith/ answered the stranger, 
 * this widow is indeed my friend ; for she is a Per- 
 sian, and also a follower of our holy Prophet; and 
 although I never beheld her till yesterday, yet have 
 her necessities knit us together in the bond of 
 friendship.' 
 
 ' Stranger,' said the Sultan, smiling, ' I under- 
 stand you: you are charmed with the beauteous 
 sorrows of this amiable widow, and you are ready 
 to renew the vows which Queshad doth now re- 
 member no more.' 
 
 ' Prince of thy people,' replied the stranger, ' thy 
 slave would never wish to countenance ingratitude 
 to those whom we have lost : grief is the natural 
 tribute of a fond heart to the memory of the be- 
 loved: and though I have besought the widow of 
 Queshad to moderate her affliction, yet shall I 
 grieve to see her change her pious tears for wanton 
 dimples. No, prince; moved only by humanity, I 
 met, and as my poor endeavours could, I succoured 
 the distressed ; and now, by royal Adhim's kind 
 permission, I kneel before my prince's throne, an 
 humble supplicant for a lielpless widow.' 
 
 ' Lemack,' said the Sultan, turninghastily toward 
 his vizier, ' thinkest thou the new favourite, Mir- 
 glip, has half the virtues of this man before me? 
 Haste, vizier, and bring liim here; and I will engage 
 our stranger shall in every grace exceed this upstart 
 Mirglip.' 
 
 As ths Sultan Adhim spake thus, the stranger 
 fell with his face before the throne and said, * If 
 Mirglip hath offended his prince, let thy guards, O 
 Sultan, here strike, and sacrifice him to thy just 
 resentment.' 
 
 * What!' said Adhim, starting, 'art thou too 
 Mirglip? Officious slave I was it not sufficient to
 
 366 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 send this flattering crew before me, but must thou 
 also act thy base hypocrisy in person here ?' 
 
 ♦ Merciful Adhlm,' said the vizier Lemack, ' let 
 tliis trusty scimitar lay bare the traitor's bosom, 
 and relieve my prince from such darmg rebellion.' 
 
 ' Hokl, Lemack,' said the Sultan sternly, 'and 
 defile not my reign with so mean a sacrifice: no, 
 let him live; and if indeed he be the man fame 
 speaks him, he well were worthy of a monarch's 
 favour." 
 
 The subjects of Adhim, hearing the noble sentence 
 of their prince, made the vaulted divan echo with 
 thoir praises, and every eye but Lemack's sparkled 
 with a joyous tear. However, the cautious vizier, 
 perceiving the purpose of his master Adhim, and 
 the satisfaction of the populace, veiled his mahce 
 with a courtier's smile, and, descending from his 
 seat, he gave his hand to Mirglip, and raised the 
 prostrate Persian from the earth. 
 
 ' O royal Adhim,' said Mirglip, ere he arose, 'if, 
 with a view to worldly honour only, I had done my 
 duty, or to court the soft air of gentle-breathing 
 flattery, then might my prince with indignation 
 view the rebel Mirglip : but surely, prince, to fol- 
 low the holy precepts of our law, in honour of my 
 Prophet, is not a deed deserving royal Adhim's 
 hatred ?' 
 
 ' Mirglip,' said Adhim, ' rise ; thy prince ap- 
 plauds thy holy zeal, and thou shalt live within my 
 spacious walls, that daily I may hear thy virtuous 
 converse.' 
 
 ' Bountiful Sultan,' answered Mirglip ; ' in hum- 
 ble meanness bred a native of the forest, the honours 
 of my lord would sit unhandsomely upon thy slave, 
 and I should act the courtier with an awkward grace : 
 rather, if it please my prince, let Mirglip still among
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 367 
 
 the meanest wander, sufficiently rewarded for his 
 labours, that Adhim once hath deigned to bless his 
 life with an approving smile.' 
 
 ' What !' said the Sultan, astonished,' canst thou 
 resist the offers of thy prince ? Are not the tribes of 
 Xemi themightiestof my subjects? Arenotthe cap- 
 tains of the host of Feriz in the long toils of war re- 
 nowned? Are not these all anxiously soliciting to be 
 admitted into the palaces of the plains of Orez ; and 
 shall Mirglip, a base peasant, dare refuse the boun- 
 ties of his lord ? Yes, peasant as thou art,' continued 
 the Sultan, ' thy folly be thy punishment : go, live 
 inglorious, in the cottages of the forest, and every 
 hour lament the lost affections of thy prince.' 
 
 Thus said the Sultan, nor suffered a reply, but 
 hastily M'ithdrew with Lemack from the divan; while 
 the populace with tears departed, all wondering at 
 the abstinence of their favourite Mirglip. 
 
 The pride of Adhim was severely rebuked by the 
 indifference of Mirglip ; and he looked on his 
 palaces with contempt, since they were unable to 
 raise his fame among his subjects, cr to tempt the 
 admiration of a rude peasant. 
 
 Lemack with pleasure saw the emotion of his 
 master; the peace of Adhim was indifferent to the 
 vizier so long as no upstart favourite was likely to 
 destroy his interest with his prince. 
 
 ' The well-instructed and the ingenuous mind 
 alone,' said the vizier to Adhim, ' can admire the 
 extensive works of Adhim, my lord : to Mirglip, 
 and his tribe of peasants, these beauteous piles look 
 like the steep mountains, which the labouring hind 
 toils over, without reflecting on its mighty founder; 
 as the bird, with outstretched wing, poised on the 
 buoyant air, obliquely bkims upon a palace or a 
 cottage, and, in its native ignorance, knows not 
 the Sultan of Persia from the peasant of the moun- 
 tain.'
 
 308 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 * Thy words,' replied Adhim, 'though meant to 
 soothe my gloom, do truly fidd a poignant sting 
 tlioreto. I have seen, O Lemack, the busy thrush, 
 with impotent anxiery, framing its little nest ; aiul 
 I have smiled to view the insignificant bea.ms of its 
 dwelling place • yet, Lemack, that thrush, perhaps, 
 is now regardless of my palaces, with a few airy 
 circlets circuinscribing thy Adhim's magnificence; 
 and, should I venture forth, might chirrup out a 
 careless noteabove,and mute upon thy prince, whom 
 all tlie armies of the Persian empire might vainly 
 follow to revenge his pastime.' 
 
 ' My prince,' answered Lemack, ' is merry with 
 his slave.' 
 
 ♦Thy prince,' answered Adhim, 'is dissatisfied 
 with his own magnificence, when he sees that a pea- 
 sant may be more esteemed for his private virtues 
 than the Sultan of Persia for his stately palaces: 
 nay, Lemack, I myself esteem this Mirghp ; and 
 thou shalt haste and pay that widow, whom he so 
 charitably supported, an hundred sequins.' 
 
 ' Alas ! glory of the East,' answered the vizier, 
 * shall Adliim then, the Sultan of Persia, stoop be- 
 neath a peasant? Sliouldest thou heap half the 
 wealth of thy kingdom on this woman ; not thine, 
 but iNIirglip's, would be the praise, and the hypo- 
 critical peasant should seem to make thee but the 
 treasurer of his cofFt-rs.' 
 
 ' Sooner let the widow waste like the live ember,' 
 paid the Sultan, ' than such reflections glance on 
 Adhim.' 
 
 ' But v/hy, O prince,' said Lemack, ' should a 
 peasant's follies haunt thy fancy? hath not my lord 
 ten thousand slaves that wait upon his pleasures? 
 For thee, the undaunted huntsman rouses with his 
 wfllpoised spear the tawny monarch of the forest, 
 or with dexterous eye marks where the panther hide
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 369 
 
 its callow ofi^pring : or, drawing with keen aim the 
 feathered arrow, buries its bearded point within the 
 spotted tiger's back : for thee, the clarion sounds, 
 and the brisk trumpet blows its lively note to mark 
 thy footsteps : for thee, returning from his watery 
 bed, the sun lights up the gray morn, and kindles 
 for thy pleasure the genial face of day : for thee, 
 the blooming virgins of the East dissolve in amo- 
 rous sighs ; while every eye, attendant on thy will, 
 beams not, unless thy favour light it up, and give 
 it life.' 
 
 'i^nd where is the joy,' said Adhim, 'that, ty- 
 rant of the wood, I spread destruction ? that, cursed 
 by me, the lordly lion dies 1 or that the tender pro- 
 geny, which Heaven gives the panther, I destroy 1 
 What praise, Lemack, shall Adhim challenge, that 
 the tiger writhes his bloody back, and groans oiit 
 beastly sighs to give me pleasure ? that my fame 
 hangs upon the filthy blast of some swoln trum- 
 peter ? Or shall I think the sun awaits my call, 
 who, long before my realms receive a distant ray, 
 is listening to the whistle of some Eastern husband- 
 man 1 Yet, worse than all these, thou settest my 
 honour on a woman's smile; and wouldest persuade 
 thy Adhim, that the greedy eye glistens at nie, 
 which glistens at my gold. 
 
 No, Lemack, without a self-approving conscience, 
 and a virtuous mind, base are the pleasures of 
 a human soul : and Mirglip, by one righteous 
 deed, shall gain more solid comfort, than royal 
 Adhim on the Persian throne. Lemack,' continued 
 the Sultan, ' this Mirglip shall be our friend ; and 
 thou, ere morning dawns, shall court him to thy 
 prince.' 
 
 'The will of Adhim,' replied Lemack, 'be his 
 vizier's law.' 
 
 Thus said the jealous vizier, and retired from the 
 2 B
 
 370 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 palace of Adliim, unwilling to execute the com- 
 mands of his master, and yet fearful of disobeying 
 his orders. 
 
 ' This villanous slave,' said Lemack, as he went 
 from the presence of Adhim, * has, by his s'ale vir- 
 tues, corrupted the magnificent heart of Adhim, my 
 lord. While Adhim led his rivers through the 
 rocks, I led Adhim through the blind valleys of 
 deceit : and when ambition stirred, I set my royal 
 builder to rise from stone to stone, and scale the 
 clouds : long with such fruitless toil he pleased his 
 infant mind, and, big with mighty plans of moving 
 barren mountains, he left the lower offices of go- 
 vernment to me : then luxurious plunder filled my 
 chests; and as I passed, the children cried, the 
 widows shrieked, and the astonished populace hid 
 their heads, and cried, — ' Hush ! prostrate fall, the 
 vizier Lemack comes!' — Then, every step I took, 
 great Lemack trod upon some abject neck, and 
 the deluded Persian thought death by my hand was 
 a safe passport into paradise : if with hot eye I 
 caught a female glance, the husband trembling 
 came, and offered his wife, proud that from Lemack's 
 loins should rise his future progeny ; or, if the cold 
 senseless matron sighed out a denial, her house 
 erased, her children slaughtered, and her husband 
 pierced with the bloody stake, were the first tokens 
 of my least displeasure. Such Lemack was, while 
 Adhim was a builder ; but now, his plan complete, 
 his tower errcted, and his plain enclosed, his bu>y 
 mind unsatisfied, seeks new diversion, and, for 
 want of vice, virtue has made a faint attempt upon 
 his heart. But I wil! stir the infernal race, and 
 raise up phantoms to elude his search ; and chiefly, 
 that no starch example may lead him forward, this 
 3Iirglip shall find a ready wny to th:, t Heaven wliich 
 he so longs for; that every pious fool may know,
 
 I 
 
 MTRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 371 
 
 how dangerous it is to ape a saint, where Lemack 
 reigns.' 
 
 Such were the thoughts of Lemack, the vizier of 
 Adhim,aslae passed from the presence of his Sultan 
 to his own palace on the plains of Orez : and, in the 
 rancorous malice of his heart, he resolved to send 
 forth a midnight executioner to destroy the vir- 
 tuous peasant Mirglip, whose actions had miide 
 such an impression on the mind of Adhim. 
 
 But the crafty vizier soon considered that the blast 
 of opposition would increase the reviving flame of 
 Adhim's virtue; and that to destroy one vigorous 
 plant, would be to raise a thousand shoots around 
 the expiring stock : he therefore resolved to work ia 
 secret craftiness, and that very night to go in search 
 of the sorcerer Fairi, under whose tuition he had 
 been bred in the dark caves of Goruou. 
 
 For this purpose, the vizier Lemack exchanged 
 his gorgeous robes of state for the religious weeds 
 of a poor devotee : but, that his sanctified appear- 
 ance might not have too much of the reality of re- 
 ligion, he hid under his Oiitward rajis a meal of 
 royal delicacies, and a flason of the delicious pro- 
 duce of the vintage of Tihi. 
 
 Thus equipped, he walked forth toward the caves 
 of Goruou, which were in a secret part of the forest, 
 about three leagues from the royal buildings; and, 
 fearful of a discovery, the disguised vizier avoided 
 every Persian in his walk, lest they should know 
 him, and revenge themselves on the public author 
 of all their wrongs. 
 
 The cave of Falri v as surrounded with unhal- 
 lowed swine, who grunted on the dark and filthy 
 leaves of corn, which the sorcerer had })repared for 
 their sustenauce and their bed : an ill savoured 
 steam rose from their hides, und the neighbouring 
 woods were filled with the loud snarling of the 
 guards of Fuhi.
 
 372 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 As Lemack, pressing the beiistly muck with his 
 wet sandals, passed the hot-smelling swine, they all 
 ■with erected bristles, endeavoured to oppose his 
 passage, till, scenting the delicacies which were 
 hidden beneath his rags, they ran upon him, and, 
 unless he had suddenly entered into the presence 
 of Falri,they had destroyed the vizier. 
 
 The cave of Falri smelt not more delicately than 
 the swine before it ; on every side appeared the dis 
 gorged marks of drunkenness and gluttony, and 
 the sour steam which issued from the covered 
 pavement, assured Lemack, that he came too late 
 to partake of the debauch of Falri. 
 
 At the upper end of the cave the sorcerer lay 
 extended, pressing his aching forehead with a hand 
 besmeared with grease, and with the lees of wine ; 
 his little red ferret eyes were half squeezed by 
 anguish from their bleared sockets; and his: 
 cheeks, scalded with the fiery rheum, and bloated 
 by excess, shone discoloured with a thousand hues. 
 Blotches, carbuncles, and warts, adorned his glow- 
 ing nose; and in his filthy beard the different 
 sauces of a week's extravagance were closely 
 matted : his lips, chapped and divided by the burn- 
 ing steam of his overloaded stomach, discovered f 
 his foul teeth, clogged by corrupted food, and black 1 
 with rottenness; and on his furred and fever- 
 parched tongue hung not a drop of moisture. 
 Over his unwieldy paunch, and lifeless limbs, were 
 thrown a few disordered garments, but in contrary 
 fashion to their real use; the turban, unfolded, 
 covered his feet, and the vest was wrapped round 
 his head, while his unseemly parts were left ex- 
 posed, and emblems of his beastlihood. Beside 
 him stood his tube, burning with the foetid herb 
 tobacco, filling the cave with its poisonous odour; ^J 
 and on his right hand was placed a calabash of the ^^ 
 sinrituous juice of rice. 
 
 t-a
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 373 
 
 As the vizier Lemack entered, the sorcerer 
 Falri filled the cave with curses and execrations: 
 but when he perceived it was his pupil in disguise, 
 the wretch arose with many a stagger, on his 
 tottering legs, and ran with outstretched arms to 
 hold him in his nauseous gripe. 
 
 What bringeth Lemack,' said the ferret-eyed 
 sorcerer, 'from the feasts of Ragla'i to the caves of 
 Falri ? Are all the oxen of the plains of Orez de- 
 oured ? or are the royal flagons of Adhim ex- 
 hausted V 
 
 Thy son,' answered Lemack, sighing, ' was once 
 he pride of Orez, and the voice of his mouth was 
 law in Persia; Adhim was magnificent, and Le- 
 naok was absolute ; my days were crowned with 
 festivals, and my nights with debauch : but soon 
 hese joyous carousals shall be no more; Adhim 
 7akes to virtue, and an abstemious peasant will ^^-^ 
 hortly be his guide, unless the power of Falri fyf% 
 hake from his security the abstemious Mirglip.' / 9% « 
 'What, Lemack,' answered Falri, 'art thou a *9k '^ 
 izier in Persia, and comest thou to me to destroy 
 peasant for thee? Let thy guards this night dis- " 
 lember the abstemious Mirglip, and to-morrow 
 se, and fear not to meet thine enemy in thy paths.' 
 'The nature of Adhim, my Sultan,' replied Le- 
 lack, ' will not be deceived : when Mirglip shall 
 } missing, his whole pursuit shall be after the 
 lurderer, and Lemack at length be sacrificed.' 
 * Then,' answered Falri, ' leave him to thy friend; 
 ?turn in peace to thy palace; and to-morrow, 
 en thou goest into the presence of thy prince, 
 )ldly declare that Mirglip could not appear he- 
 re him, because he was drunken with wine.' 
 ' Alas !' replied Lemack, ' the Sultan, jealous of 
 y tale, will haste to summon Mirglip before him, 
 id I, detected in my falsehood, shall fall for ever 
 )m before my prince.'
 
 374 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 ' If such suspicion?,' answered Falri, ' rise, do 
 you engajre.by the succeeding night, to show your 
 Sultan Mirglip drinks the forbidden wine, and 
 leave the rest tu me.' 
 
 ' To Fahi's artifice,' replied the vizier, ' I will 
 leave it all, and haste again to Ragla'i and the 
 plains of Orez.' 
 
 Thus said Lemack, and departed ; not forgetful 
 of the viands, which he kept concealed in his gar- 
 ments, but willing to feast alone in the wood, after 
 he had left the sorcerer : for, his purpose gained, 
 the vizier, who was exhausted by his journey, 
 wished for no partaker in his gluttony. 
 
 In the morning, when Lemack appeared before 
 Adhim, the Sultan inquired after Mirglip the 
 Persian. 
 
 * Glory of the earth,' said the vizier, bowing, 
 * who is he that is like Adhim in the greatness of 
 his mind ? over whom custom hath no chain, and 
 who knows not the sceptered power of appetite 
 and passion ! . Mirglip, O Sultan, hath won the 
 hearts of all the people; he riseth and scattereth 
 abroad the gifts of benevolence; he healeth the 
 breaches of neighbours ; he coinforteth the af- 
 flicted: but fatigued with the severe duties of the 
 day, his wasted strength requireth recruit ; and 
 at night, after all his toils, he is renewed with the 
 precious tears which fall from the luscious grape.' 
 ' Hah ! Lemack,' said Adhim, starting, ' is Mir- 
 glip, the wise, the temperate Mirglip, the slave of 
 wine ? No, Lemack, it cannot be ?' 
 
 '0 thou,' answered the vizier, 'before whom 
 hypocrisy flieth di-mayed, and in whose presence 
 falsehood dare not stand ; forgive the tongue of 
 thy slave, which wished not to utter the failings of 
 its brother! To me, O Adhim, Mirglip is allied 
 by the ties of virtue and religion ; and not with- 
 out iiiy own distress, do I discover the little spot
 
 MIRGLIP THE PEKSIAX. 975 
 
 which sullies the glory of Persia : but my j)rince 
 requireth truth from his slave.— Know then, O 
 Sultan, that, in obedience to thy command, I this 
 norning entered the cottage of Mirglip : where I 
 saw, O piteous sight ! his outstretched corpse un- 
 washed on tlie ground, and the empty flagon, 
 wliich stood beside him. Struclc dumb with the 
 siglit, I hastened away before Mirglip awoke, to re- 
 late to my prince the disagreeable tale ; and having 
 heard from his neighbour, that this is the only 
 failing of Mirglip, which he repeats every night, 
 my prince may himself to-night discover the truth 
 of ray assertion.' 
 
 ' That,' answered Adhim, ' I mean to do, in the 
 same disguise which we lately assumed. Where- 
 fore, Le mack, leave me now, and prepare to con- 
 vince me this night of what you have said.' 
 
 Lemack obeyed: and night being come, Adhim 
 and his vizier departed silently from Orez to the 
 cottage of Mirglip. 
 
 In the mean time, Falri, disguised in the habit 
 of a merchant, entered the city of Raglai, and 
 knocked, in the dusk of the evening, at the cottage 
 of Mirglip; who invited him into his house, and 
 understanding he came from a far country, set 
 before him such plain provision as he had used 
 himself. 
 
 The pretended merchant, having eaten his fill, 
 sighed; and, telling Mirglip that he was greatly 
 fatigued with his journey, he desired him to bestow 
 one cup of wine upon him. 
 
 Mirglip started at the request of the pretended 
 merchant. 
 
 ' What !' said he, ' have I received under my 
 roof one who despiseth the [)recept3 of Mahomet, 
 and the command of Alia?' 
 
 ' Alas'.' answered the pretended merchant, ' Ma-
 
 376 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 liomet knows what a force I put upon my con- 
 science, when I besought thee to favour me with 
 the cordial of the vintage : but surely, when my 
 nerves quiver, and my strength fails, Mahomet 
 will approve of your righteous deed.' 
 
 As the false sorcerer spake thus, he tumbled 
 from the sofa whereon he was placed, and he 
 sighed aloud,—' O Prophet, save my exhausted 
 frame !' 
 
 Mirglip perceiving the distress of the sham mer- 
 chant, and supposing it real, ran to those who 
 dealt in sherbet, and bought a pitcher of wine, 
 which he carried home and set on the ground be- 
 fore the sorcerer. 
 
 It happened, that, as Mirglip was entering his 
 cottaae, Adhim and Lemack passed him in dis- 
 guise : and tlie Sultan saw plainly, that Mirglip 
 was carrying into his cottage a pitcher of wine. 
 
 The enraged Sultan at first resolved to sacrifice 
 the hypocrite, as he supposed him, to his just 
 resentment, which Lemack the vizier advised. But 
 a few moments reflection made the Sultan rather 
 choose to condemn him publicly, than to gain the 
 hatred of his people by a precipitate execution. 
 
 Adhim, disgusted, returned to his palace ; order- 
 ing Mirglip to be brought before him in the morn- 
 ing ; and Lemack retired to a joyous banquet, of 
 which he partook with a new relish, as he doubted 
 not but the fate of Mirglip was determined. 
 
 Early in the morning, the guards of the Sultan 
 surrounded the cottage of Mirglip : and the vizier 
 Lemack commanded a few chosen guards to enter, 
 and seize on the hypocritical peasant. 
 
 Mirglip, though surprised at the tumult, yet 
 showed no marks of fear ; conscience spread no 
 alarm within ; and he was satisfied that the sword, 
 which might deprive him of his existence, could 
 not destroy the inward peace of his soul.
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 377 
 
 The guards, who were accustomed to strike ter- 
 ror into their captives, supposed they h^d been 
 mistaken ; and that the man who kneeled not for 
 mercy, nor trembled through fear, could not be 
 Mirglip, whom they were commanded to seize. 
 Being assured from his own lips, that he was Mir- 
 glip the Persian, they brought him before Lemack, 
 whose eyes were swoln with intemperance, and 
 whose brow was laden with malice. 
 
 ' What calm hypocrite,* said Lemack, roughly, 
 ' have we here, who has so soon forgot the revels of 
 the night, and the fumes of wine? But Adhim, the 
 royal Adhim, shalljudge thee, thou vile sycophant ! 
 Guards,' continued the vizier, 'were there no 
 partakers with this Mirglip ? Was no one with him 
 in the cottage, where ye found him extended on the 
 floor with drunkenness V 
 
 'Just judge of Persia,' answered the false sor- 
 cerer, who then came forward, ' let my pardon be 
 sealed by the lips of the righteous Lemack, and I 
 will speak.' 
 
 ' If thou declarest truly before our Sultan what 
 passed between thee and Mirglip last night,' an- 
 swered Lemack, 'thou shalt be forgiven : but till 
 then, guards, seize on him, and let us bring them 
 both before our Sultan.' 
 
 The crowd gathered as Mirglip and the vizier 
 passed ; and when they entered Ijefore Adhim, the 
 divan was crowded with anxious spectators. The 
 Sultan sat on his throne, when Lemack brought 
 Mirglip in fetters before him, 
 
 ' This, O royal Adhim,' said Lemack, bowing, ' is 
 the man whom Persia loveth more than her prince ; 
 who in his midnight haunts pours out the spacious 
 goblet ; who cheats the deluded populace by sancti- 
 fied expressions in the day, and at the decline of 
 the sun curseth Alia and his Prophet, in the cups 
 of his drunkenness.'
 
 378 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 The populace shuddered at the malicious expreg- 
 sionsof^Lcmack ; and they doubted not but the 
 vizier would prevail and destroy their favourite. 
 
 ' Vizier,' replied the Sultan, ' we sit here to 
 judge from real facts, and not from the warm 
 expressions of zeal. — Wlio is it that accuseth 
 Mirglip?' 
 
 ' Tliis merchant,' answered Lemack, 'whom he 
 entertained last night, shocked at Mirglip's hypo- 
 crisy, and penitent for his own accidental share in 
 it; lie. without compulsion, offered to disclose the 
 truth, if Adhim would forgive the partaker in the 
 crimes of Mirglip.' 
 
 The vizier then brought the sham merchant for- 
 ward before the throne. 
 
 ' Sun of Persia, and guide of the faithful,' said 
 the sorcerer, prostrate liefore Adhim, 'let my lord 
 forgive, and I will speak.' 
 
 ' Speak then,' answered Adhim, ' the truth ; and 
 justice shall for this once forget to strike.' 
 
 ' As I entered this city last niglit,' said the sham 
 merchant, ' yon Persian accosted me, and willed me 
 to partake with him of the plain foo! of his cottage : 
 thankful for his offer, I followed him, and he set be- 
 fore me some roots and some boiled rice. After 
 which, — ' Merchant,' said he, ' can you be secret ? 
 You are fatigued with your journey, and a cup of 
 wine will enliven you.' It was in vain that, in an- 
 swer, I urged the commandment of our Prophet, 
 and the law of Adhim ; Mirglip would be obeyed; 
 and he gave me a small cup, but in his own Land 
 he held one large enough to contain a measure of 
 rice. By frequent pledges we soon emptied ourj 
 first pitcher of wine ; and Mirglip, not content, 
 went forth to those who sell sherbet, and purchased 
 a second. 
 
 ' The more we drank, the more lively we grew,
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 379 
 
 and Mirglip waxed communicative. — 'Merchant,' 
 said he, ' I invite only strangers ; and after the first 
 night, I see them no more : you will, perhaps, be 
 surprsed to think that I, but a mean cottager, can 
 every night support such an expense : but your won- 
 der will cease, when you shall hear that I am boun- 
 tifully supplied by the rich mercliants and widows 
 of Raglai with money to distribute among the poor : 
 lialf of their supplies I regularly distribute every 
 day, and the populace have made a saint of me for 
 my labour; the other half exactly supplies me with 
 an entertainment and wine each night for myself 
 and a stranger.' 
 
 • 'And how Cometh it to pass,' answered I, ' that 
 none of these stranners discover you?' 
 
 * 'That,' answered Mirglip, ' is a secret which 
 you never must know ' 
 
 ' This, O Sultan, made me suspect that Mirglip 
 at last gave some potion to his guests, to take from 
 them all memory of his feast ; and therefore I re- 
 solved to taste nothinu- more in his house. 
 
 ' What ! suspected was true : when 1 was about 
 to depart, hebiouglit out a small stone bottle: — 
 ' This,' said he, ' O stranger, is a wine of the most 
 exquisite flavour ; I can aftbrd you but little of it; 
 to every guest I give a cup and no more.' 
 
 ' Mirgiip then poured forth a cup full; and I 
 pretended to drink tliereof, but in truth I turned 
 aside, and poured it secretly into my bosom ; by 
 which means I preserved my memory, and have 
 been enabled to detect the hypocrisies of Mirglip.' 
 
 As the sham merchant uttered these words, a 
 deej) groan was heard through every ])art of the 
 divan, and the populace incensed, cried out, that 
 Mirglip, the deceitful Mirglip, might be delivered 
 to their fury. 
 
 ' The words of the merchant,' said the Sultan^
 
 330 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 * are too true ; apart of his tale I myself did wit- 
 ness, when, going through the city in disguise, I 
 met this Mirglip with a pitcher of wine in his hand.' 
 
 No more proof seemed wanting, nor would the 
 Sultan suffer Mirglip to answer for himself. 
 
 • Thy tongue,' said he, ' is used to deceit ; and I 
 will not hear the hypocrisies thou art prepared to 
 utter.' 
 
 Lemack, rejoicing, seized instantly on Mirglip, 
 and commanded the guards to gag him, that he 
 might not, in the malice of his heart, utter any 
 blasphemy against Alia, or rebellion against his 
 prince. 
 
 The unfortunate Mirglip, overpowered by force 
 and tumult, was led away, Lemack hoped, to instant 
 execution; but the Sultan, in themidstof his anger, 
 felt his heart yearn toward him , and he commanded, 
 that, till his sentence should be pronounced, he 
 should be cast into a deep dungeon, at the foot of 
 the rock on which stood the palace of the king. 
 
 Mirglip peaceably submitted to his fate ; and, 
 seeing no present hope of answering for himself, 
 meekly followed the guards of Adhim to the dun- 
 geons of the mountain. 
 
 The vizier Lemack, having thus blasted the re- 
 putation of Mirglip, resolved to divert the thoughts 
 of Adhim by some sudden scheme, that he might 
 the easier destroy the unhappy peasant in secret. 
 
 For this purpose, he commanded his emissaries 
 to procure some of the most beauteous slaves; that, 
 if possible, the king might be moved from his pre- 
 sent thoughts on temperance and virtue, to the 
 looser phantasies of dalliance and love. 
 
 The orders of Lemack were always executed with 
 precipitation ; the vizier, impatient in his pur- 
 poses, would brook no delay ; so that neither rank 
 nor condition was considered, but every beauteous
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 381 
 
 female within the Persian empire was suddenly 
 dragged to the royal seraglio. 
 
 Out of these, the artful Lemack chose thirty, who 
 surpassed the rest in proportion, beauty, elegance, 
 and grace ; and led them, adorned with the sumptu- 
 ous luxury of the East, to the painted dome, where 
 the royal Adhim constantly refreshed himself as 
 soon as he arose from his mid-day slumbers. 
 
 The Sultan, who, though he had banished M;v- 
 glip from his presence, could not banish him from 
 his thoughts, was displeased at the officious zeal of 
 his vizier, and ordered Lemack to retire with his 
 females. 
 
 Lemack, seeing the determined cotmtenance of 
 his Sultan, was obliged to obey, and he made the 
 signal for the virgins of Persia to retire from the 
 painted dome. 
 
 The Sultan, though indifferent, could not help ob- 
 serving the joy which one of the females expressed 
 at the signal of Lemack the vizier. During the 
 time of their standing in the painted dome, her 
 eyes were cast on the ground, and her arms were 
 folded in despair : but when she heard the voice of 
 Lemack commanding them to retire, she alone 
 lift up her sparkling eyes in transport to Heaven, 
 while every other female was disgusted at their 
 Sultan's neglect. 
 
 ' Vizier,' said Adhim, * who is she among the 
 virgins oi^ Persia, that rejoiceth to be driven from 
 the presence of her Sultan ?' 
 
 The fair Nourenhi (for that was the name of the 
 virgin) started at the voice of Adhim ; she per- 
 ceived that the Sultan had noticed hor transports; 
 and the pale mantle of fear overspread her cheeks. 
 But the fear of Nourenhi could not deprive her 
 beauteous frame of its delicate symmetry, nor her 
 lovely black eves of their radiant lustn.'.
 
 382 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 ' O Alia !' said Adliim, as he beheld her, ' who art 
 thou, O virgin of Persia, whose limbs are like the 
 ].olished pillars of the temple? whose breasts heave 
 like tlie roe panting for the thicket ? and the arch of 
 whose forehead is glorious as the enlightened he- 
 misphere?' 
 
 ' Lord of thy slaves, and terror of the earth,' 
 answered Nourenhi, ' thou seest at thy feet the 
 danchtcr of a poor countryman, whose age and 
 infirmitit"=arenow witliout support : since ten days, 
 was my dear sister Kaphira stolen from his em- 
 brace, and now is thy handmaid dragged from his 
 trembling arms.' 
 
 • The man who, but in thought, hath injured him 
 ivho gave thee life, daughter of Heaven,' said 
 Adhim, stooping to raise her, ' shall meet the fierce 
 resentment of this arm.' 
 
 ' Lemack,' continued Adhim hastily, ' whence 
 came this fragrant flower ? Has she been plucked 
 by force. vizier, from her parent stock ; or, by 
 her beauties awed, led ye her hither as the queen 
 of Persia ?' 
 
 ' Author of mercy,' answered the vizier, ' this 
 flower by chance we found ; and who her parents 
 are thy Lemack knows not.' 
 
 • To thee then must 1 kneel,' said the fond Ad- 
 him, ' thou master-piece of nature, to know from 
 what deep mine thy artless lustres sprang; that in 
 the plains of Orez I may plant the whole family of 
 my beloved, and heap such honours on them as 
 Persia's throne may give, and thy fair beauties 
 merit.' 
 
 • To frugal virtue long inured,' answered the fair 
 weeping Xourenhi, ' my aged sire would curse \v% 
 daughter, should you transplant him here. Curse ! 
 said I ? alas ! T wrong my gentle sire ! No, Sultmi, 
 sweet endearing smiles hang e^ er on hi'; cheek ; and
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 383 
 
 what he thinks amiss, in such soft accent is pro- 
 nounced, that even guilt is pleased to hear itself 
 condemned.' 
 
 ' By the great Founder of our faith,' said Adhim, 
 'described by such fair lips, and such soft words 
 as thine, t!iy peasant-father seems a saint to me ! 
 O, what power is in those lips, to muke whomever 
 you please as amiable as you are! But name hini, 
 beauteous virjiin, that Lemack, with a sumptuous 
 embassy, may court In'm to our presence.' 
 
 ' Forgive me, mighty Sultan,' said the fair Nou- 
 renhi, ' but I dare not: for when the pandersof thy 
 royal court canie to the happy grove which late iu 
 vain concealed thy slave; — ' Nourenhi,' said my 
 sire, ' let no man know this safe retreat which long 
 hath hid thy father from the eyes of power.' 
 
 ' If such were his commands, thou shalt obey 
 him, fair Nourenhi,' said the Sultan ; ' and here- 
 after, when the imperial diadem of Persia glitters 
 on thy brow, thou shalt surprise him with thy 
 presence, and tell his aged unbelieving heart, that 
 Adhim is his son-in-law.' 
 
 ' Alia forbid,' replied Nourenhi firmly, ' that 
 ever his daughter should so soon forget the tempe- 
 rate lessons of her tender sire ! No, royal Adhim, 
 Nourenhi long hath learned to value the chaste 
 Mirglip's virtues more than all the splendours of 
 the Persian throne.' 
 
 * So !' said Adhim, pausing, ' vizier, this is well ; 
 unsatisfied with his drunken lusts, this hypocrite 
 hath also gained tie Persian females to his in- 
 terest.' 
 
 ' Bred from our infant years together/ said 
 Nourenlii, ' we long have loved with an holy love, 
 and Alia and his Prophet olt have heard our 
 pliglited faith.' 
 
 • No more !' said Adhim. ' Slaves, remove this
 
 3(54 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 darinrr female from my sight.— And, vizier,' con- 
 tinued the Sultan, ' let the axe this moment fall, 
 and free the realms of Persia fi om the hypocrisies 
 of Mirjilip.' 
 
 The mutes and the vizier both hasted to obey the 
 Sultan. Nourenhi, with folded hands and streaming 
 eyes, in vain besoujzht liis pity ; the mutes hurried 
 her from the presence of Adhim, and the Sultan 
 was left alone in the painted dome. 
 
 Adhim enraged, seated himself on his sofa, and 
 impatiently desired the return of the vizier with 
 the head of Mirglip ; but, hearing a noise in the 
 court beneath, he looked forth through the lattice- 
 work of the dome, expecting that Lemack, to 
 please him, had ordered the execution of Mirglip 
 within sight of the dome. But the corpulentsides 
 of the vizier had so far retarded the speed of his 
 malice, that he hardly had reached the middle of 
 the court, when Adhim looked forth through the 
 lattice-work of the dome, where he saw Lemack 
 stopped in his course by two reverend imans, who 
 kneeled before him. 
 
 ' Vicegerent of Persia,' said the first to Lemack, 
 ' we come to inform our Sultan of one who has 
 dared to abuse the sacred ears of justice with the 
 tales of falsehood.' 
 
 'Vile, doting priests,' said the vizier Lemack, 
 panting for breath, ' avaunt ! Our Sultan is too 
 wise to listen to the dreams of priests : and mark 
 me, reverend grey-beards, if again, with steps of- 
 ficious, ye enter the palace of our royal master, I 
 will send your heads aloft above the gates, to 
 preach without your bodies.' 
 
 'Vizier,' said Adhim, opening the lattice of the 
 dome, ' I will not have tlie servants of my God 
 disgraced without a cause; if, contrary to their 
 faith, they have offended against our laws, I bid
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 385 
 
 thee, vizier, be severe ; as they who teach should 
 practise first the duties they enforce : but if, led 
 alone by honest truth, they come to warn me of 
 some secret falsehood, they, vizier, act as duteous 
 servants to their prince, and I will honour them. — 
 Venerable imans,' continued the Sultan, 'ye, who 
 have free access to Alia, shall never want access to 
 me : yet take heed, and use these sacred freedoms 
 as becomes the ministers of truth; a flattering 
 priest, who bids us look to Heaven, that he may 
 ransack the earth, shall meet with AUa's curse, 
 and man's abhorrence.' 
 
 The vizier Lemack, finding he was overlooked, 
 endeavoured to retract from his severity. 
 
 * Glory of the earth,' said he to Adhim, * I have 
 indeed injured these children of our Prophet, 
 warm with indignation, that Mirglip should so often 
 offend my prince, not even the messengers of Hea- 
 ven could stop my fury ; and these whom, in my 
 cooler hours, I love to honour, the favourites of 
 Mahomet, these holy imans of our faith, have I with 
 hasty word abused.' 
 
 * It is enough, O Lemack,' said Adhim,from the 
 window, ' I know thy temper is jealous of thy 
 prince's honour : but bring these holy men before 
 me ; and, till their audience be passed, let Mirglip 
 live.' 
 
 Lemack obeyed with a dissembled alacrity ; and, 
 taking each iman by the hand, he led them upwards 
 toward the painted dome, blessing Alia aloud, who 
 had placed him in the midst of two such holy sup- 
 porters. 
 
 The imans, entering the dome, fell prostrate be- 
 fore Adhim, who commanded them to declare the 
 , cause of their coming. 
 
 , • O thou prince,' said the elder, ' to whom Alia 
 I Uath committed the government of thy people, for- 
 -2 c
 
 386 MIRGLIP THE FERSIAN. 
 
 pive the boldness of thy slaves, who come to declare 
 to thee the innocence of thy servant Mirglip.' 
 
 * Good old men,' said the Sultan to them, * look 
 well that you do not utter falsehood before me ; the 
 villanics of Min^'lip are too glaring to be covered 
 by a specious talc.' 
 
 ' Lord of Persia/ answered the first iman, *lt is 
 now six days since the vizier and his guards came 
 into our district to seize on Mirglip ; and we knew 
 not till yesterday that he was accused of drunken- 
 ness, by a merchant who lodged at his house, or 
 we mig:ht long ere this have refuted the calumnies 
 of the merchant. 
 
 ' Mirglip, prince, the nightbefore his imprison- 
 7ncnt, came to us, and, with distressed looks, in- 
 formed us, that a stranger was taken ill under his 
 roof, who was so overpowered with fatigue, that he 
 besought him to give him a cup of wine, lest he 
 should die, — * Wherefore, good imans,' said the 
 charitable Mirglip, ' let me beseech you to haste to 
 his assistance, that, ere the veil of death be drawn 
 over him, his soul may be comforted by your re- 
 ligious prayers.' 
 
 ' The words of Mirglip were so urgent, that we 
 both hasted to gird ourselves, to follow him to the 
 house ; where we found a merchant on the ground, 
 wiio assured us that he had but a few moments to 
 live, 
 
 * Mirglip joined in our devotions, and we spent 
 the greater part of the night in prayers to our Pro- 
 phet ; till the base merchant, pretending to be re- 
 lieved by our prayers, arose from the ground and 
 begged leave to repose himself on the sofa. 
 
 ' Mirglip yielded to his entreaties, and we departed 
 from our friend's house ; but not till he had poured 
 forth into the yardtheremainderof the wine which
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 387 
 
 the merchant had left, lest his slaves should taste 
 of it, and break the law of their Prophet.' 
 
 * Vizier,' said Adhim, as the first iman had finished 
 his relation, ' let these good men be detained in 
 the palace, till the criers of the city have given the 
 merchant notice to appear before my throne ; and, 
 in the mean time, defer the execution of Mirglip, 
 till the truth of this tale be made manifest.' 
 
 Lemack went forth to obey the Sultan with a 
 heavy heart ; for he supposed that his friend the 
 30rcerer was returned to his cave ; and he knew 
 there was no opportunity of seeing him till night 
 iiad closed the eyes of the inhabitants of Raglai. 
 
 The criers, having in vain summoned the ficti- 
 ious merchant, returned to the palace, and assured 
 ,he Sultan, that no one could discover to them the 
 nerchant who had accused Mirglip. 
 
 * There is yet,' said Adhim, ' one circumstance 
 hat may declare the truth : for, as none have had 
 iccess to Mirglip, whom in our hasty zeal we would 
 lot hear, he cannot know these imans' tale, if out 
 f kindness they have forged it to release their 
 riend.' 
 
 The Sultan Adhim then commanded the prisoner 
 'lirglip to be brought before him : — * But,' said he 
 
 Lemack, ' vizier, attend him to our presence, 
 hat no officious look or speech betray the purpose 
 four calling him. — And, imans,' said he, * do ye 
 etire into that apartment; where, unseen, ye may 
 e witness of your friend's defence.' 
 
 As Lemack entered the dungeon of Mirglip, the 
 nfortunate youth doubted not but that he was the 
 lessenger of his death : for Lemack seldom visited 
 
 e royal prisons, except he came on some malicious 
 rrand. 
 
 But th j vizier, who began to feur lest he shoulCi 
 
 ve appoared too officious in condemning Mirglip,
 
 388 ' MIRGLIP THE PERSIAX. 
 
 and doubting not but that the love of Nourenhi 
 would soon work his destruction, resolved to put 
 on the appearance of friendship j that, should every 
 engine fail, the promotion of Mirglip might not be 
 the means of his own discredit. Wherefore Lemack 
 endeavoured to divest himself of that surly frown 
 which usually hung upon his bloated face, and with 
 awkward flattery, he addressed the unfortunate 
 prisoner : 
 
 ' They that are all goodness need not fear the 
 malice of their enemies ; for Mahomet will guard 
 them from hurt, and make the worst of men their 
 friends. As to my part, Mirglip, I am astonislied 
 at your goodness, and have severely chid all the 
 officers of state, that they did not tell me of your 
 virtues, that, while my royal master Adhim had 
 been employed in the glories of the creation, I 
 might have had the satisfaction of preferring the 
 most religious of mankind.' 
 
 ' To whatever is my Sultan's pleasure,' said Mir- 
 glip, bowing, ' I submit.' 
 
 * My Sultan,' said Lemack, somewhat offended, 
 
 • hath, at my request, resolved to hear thy defence : 
 therefore haste with me to the royal presence j and, 
 as you well are able,tell some well-coined tale before 
 liim, till his soft heart relent, and pardon follow.' i 
 
 ' If truth deserveno pardon,' said Mirglip, firm'ly, 
 
 * falsehoiid ever must deserve it less.' 
 
 The vizier replied not, but led Mirglip through 
 the dungeon into the painted dome ; for he per- 
 ceived the young Persian suspected his sincerity ; 
 and pride and resentment prevailed over his hypo- 
 crisy. 
 
 Adhim, having examined Mirglip, found by his 
 answers that the imans had declared the truth, and 
 that the strange mercliant has belied the innocent 
 Persian. ,
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 8S9 
 
 Lemack, who feared the truth would prevail, 
 was confounded at the noble simplicity of Mirglip ; 
 yet was he the first, at the permission of Adhim, to 
 release the two imans, and to congratulate them on 
 the success of their information. 
 
 Adhim was also confounded at the patience and 
 submission of Mirglip, who neither betrayed any 
 fear in his condemnation, nor seemed elated by the 
 gracious acquittal of his prince. But in the midst 
 of his admiration, the beauties of Nourenhi took 
 possession of his soul 3 and the sacrifice which he 
 dared not make to his pride, the Sultan resolved to 
 offer to his love. 
 
 * Lemack,' said the Sultan, ' dismiss these vene- 
 i rable imans with costly presents ; that my subjects 
 
 may know, that Adhim will honour those who will 
 boldly endeavour to relieve the oppressed.' 
 
 The imans being dismissed ; — ' Vizier,' said the 
 Sultan, * bring the fair Nourenhi into my presence, 
 that I may know by what arts this base man hath 
 practised on her innocence.' 
 
 At the mention of Nourenhi's name, the pale 
 Mirglip sighed, and all his precaution could not 
 prevent the visible marks of fear which possessed 
 his countenance. 
 
 ,' Ah ! base peasant,' said Adhim, * thy guilty 
 conscience has taken the alarm ; well mayest thou 
 sigh to think thy iniquitous purpose is revealed, 
 and that thy prince is witness of thy fraud.* 
 
 ' If to love the fairest of her sex,' said Mirglip, 
 * if to engage in vows of constancy with those whom 
 Alia gave as social blessings to mankind ; — if, in obe- 
 dience to the laws of nature, to follow those affec- 
 tions which religion sanctifies ; — if these be crimes,' 
 said Mirglip, ' then hath Mirglip greatly erred.' 
 
 * I did suppose,' said Adhim, ' that a man pos- 
 sessed like Mirglip with a temperate soul, had no
 
 390 MIRGLIP THE TERSIAN. 
 
 occasion for the dreams of love : though to the 
 world you seem austere, yet to JVoureuhi you can 
 relent, young man ; and while you preach of vir- 
 tue, teach her dalliance.' 
 
 ' Virtue, I have heard, Sultan,' said Mirglip, 
 * reaches not the rigid, nor the soft extremes: she 
 never dissolves into wanton luxury, nor plants her 
 foot, witliout occasion, on the prickly thorn : with 
 the fair Nourenhi I first imbibed the lessons of our 
 Prophet ; and while we hung attentive on the 
 honeyed lip of her dear father Phesoj Ecneps, we 
 both resolved to aid each other through life's 
 rugged trial. The good old Dervise saw our rising 
 love, and checked it not : — ' But, children,' said he, 
 ' restrain its bounds, and let prudence and religion 
 lead it onward to your mutual peace.' From that 
 hour, Sultan, we gave our plighted faith : and, 
 had not these unforeseen misfortunes hindered us, 
 to-morrow's sun, was destined to behold our mar- 
 riage rites.' 
 
 ' False slave,' said Adhim, * amuse me not with 
 such a senseless tale : — But here comes our faithful 
 vizier, with his beauteous charge.' 
 
 Lemack then entered the painted dome, leading 
 the fair Nourenhi, supported by a female slave. 
 
 The stately Nourenhi entered with downcast 
 eyes ; and beheld not her beloved Mirglip, till the 
 Sultan commanded her to look up, and cast her 
 eyes upon her prince. 
 
 Nourenhi shrieked at the sight of Mirglip, and 
 Lemack rejoiced to see the agitation of his Sultan, 
 when he perceived the love-sick eyes of the beau- 
 teous virgin. 
 
 * Virgin,' said Adhim, <take thy Sultan to thine 
 arms, or see my vizier make an instant sacrifice of 
 Mirglip.' 
 
 The eyes of Lemack sparkled at the speech of
 
 ariRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 391 
 
 hi3 Sultan, and he stretched forth his hand to seize 
 on his scimitar. 
 
 ' If my perpetual absence from this loved image 
 will please thee, Sultan,' said IVourenhi, ' I con- 
 sent; but never can my heart desert its vow.' 
 
 'Then, Mirglip,' said the Sultan, 'yield her to 
 me, and I will place thee next myself upon the 
 throne of Persia.' 
 
 -At these words, the heart of the vizier Lemack 
 failed ; for he doubted not but Mirglip would have 
 consented. 
 
 ' Prince of thy people,' answered Mirglip, 'how 
 shall I answer the proposals of my Sultan, who 
 wishes Mirglip to falsify his oath V 
 
 ' It is enough,' said Adhim, 'I perceive both 
 are fixed ; Lemack, invent some punishment that 
 may reach their crimes.' 
 
 ' For Mirglip,' said the vizier, drawing forth his 
 scimitar, ' this shining blade shall soon suffice j but 
 Lemack leaves the beauteous female to her master's 
 mercy ; who yet may see, when this base peasant 
 is destroyed, new beams of sprightliness awake 
 within her.' 
 
 ♦ Hold, vizier,' said the Sultan, • for Adhim likes 
 not the meanness of thy poor revenge ; no, Lemack, 
 thy Sultan only can devise a punishment adequate 
 to their crimes.' 
 
 ' Mirglip,' continued the Sultan, ' and you, proud 
 haughty fair, draw near.' 
 
 JMirglip and Nourenhi slowly obeyed the com- 
 mands of Adhim, falling prostrate beforehim; anri 
 both seemed more to fear for each other than for 
 themselves. 
 
 * Love, vassals,' said Adhim, drawing forth his 
 scimitar, * was your crime, be love your punish- 
 ment; rise, and enjoy each other; and so far shall 
 Adhim be from separating your constant hearts,
 
 392 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 that I now draw this shiuing scimitar against your 
 enemies ; and he who loves not IMirglip and Nou- 
 renhi, is a traitor to his prince. Nor think it, con- 
 stant pair, a small conquest 1 have made : for even 
 yet, while reason, and while justice persuade me to 
 bless you, intemperance and passion urge to your 
 destruction; therefore withdraw, lest some fond 
 sigh from fair Nourenhi's breast, kindle anew the 
 fever of my blood.' 
 
 Lemack, who was thunder-struck at the unex- 
 pected change, had time, in some measure, to re- 
 cover, while Adhim spoke ; and, courtier-like, he 
 employed it, in framing a compliment; which, 
 though true, yet came but awkwardly from the . 
 mouth of the fat speaker. — * Thou hast, indeed, 
 most noble Sultan, blessed this happy pair : now let 
 not Mirglip's temperance be more remembered; for 
 thou, Adhim, by this single deed, hast shown 
 more mastery of thy passions, than this Persian 
 has achieved in all his life.' 
 
 * True, noble vizier,' answered the thankful 
 Mirgllp, ' to obey the dictates of temperance and 
 virtue, where obedience is our greatest pleasure, 
 and our best reward, argues but little merit ; to 
 boast in such a cause, were to call natural appetite 
 a virtue ; but to give up desire, possession, and a 
 hundred fancied charms, to follow rigid virtue; 
 this, indeed, ennobles man, and makes the prince, 
 his people's parent, and his subjects joy.' 
 
 ' IS'or think, virtuous Sultan,' said the fair 
 Nourenhi, falling at his feet, ' that thy slave's 
 beauties are too great to gaze on, though glowing 
 with a sense of royal Adhim's generous kindness, 
 shall not these watery eyes, which thou hast 
 blest, O Sultan, reflect more pleasure on thy soul, 
 than all tlie brutal joys which force could give 
 thee? Yes, noble Adhim,' continued she, clasp-
 
 MIRQLIP THE PERSIAN. 393 
 
 ing his knees, ' thou art our father, and our 
 prince : and from thy bounties, as from the lofty- 
 mountains, flow the streams of goodness on thy 
 lowly slaves.' 
 
 The generous Adhim, overcome by the gratitude 
 of his slaves, dropped his arms on them, as they 
 kneeled at his feet, and wept over them ; and said 
 to his vizier, with a sigh ; — ' Lemack, I feel more 
 joy in this one action, than all my labours past, 
 ■ have ever given me : but I long to see the reverend 
 father of this beauteous virgin, from whom such 
 virtues are derived.' 
 
 Joy of thy slaves, and sovereign of hearts,' an- 
 swered Mirglip, * we are bound by every tie to do 
 as thou commandest, and the good Phesoj Ecneps, 
 when he hears how greatly Adhim has conde- 
 scended-to bless his slave, will doubtless haste to 
 fall prostrate before thy footstool.' 
 
 ' There is no need of that,' answered Adhim : 
 your father, doubtless, wishes not again to enter 
 the busy scenes of life, and mix with anxious cour- 
 tiers : and much instruction shall thy Sultan lose, 
 if Phesoj Ecneps regard me as the Prince of Per- 
 sia; for, though the sovereign of a kingdom, I am 
 not yet above the wise directions of a temperate 
 sage, whose heart, uncankered with the rust of 
 gold, sends forth the purest streams of piety and 
 truth : yes, Mirglip, I am resolved, in secret guise, 
 to tread those paths where thou hast learned the 
 first great wisdom, — to be good ; that 1 may kindle 
 at the glorious presence of your animating sage, 
 and treasure up such knowledge as shall bless my 
 people.' 
 
 The astonished Lemack heard the resolutions 
 of Adhim with surprise, and feared lest his Sultan 
 ihould require his presence at the mortifying 
 ectures of the good Dcrvise of the groves : but
 
 394 MIRQLIP THE PERSIAN, 
 
 his grim countenance shone with joy, when Ad- 
 him, taking him aside, declared his intention of 
 leaving the reins of Government in his hands till 
 his return. 
 
 The subtle vizier, hearing his resolutions, fell at 
 his Sultan's feet, and besought him not to think of 
 hazarding his life alone among strangers ; and that 
 if he was resolved to persist, at least he hoped 
 that he would take him to the Dervise, that 
 he might enjoy both the company of his prince, 
 and the lessons of the sage. 
 
 The unsuspicious Sultan assured his vizier, that 
 he should take all necessary precautions, but that 
 Lemack must submit to hold the reins of govern- 
 ment till his return : and in the mean time, he 
 commanded his vizier to send for a cadi, and to 
 make all preparations in the palace for the nuptials 
 of MirgUp and Nourenhi. 
 
 The city of Raglai, and the inhabitants of the 
 plain of Orez, were surpiised at the sudden altera- 
 tion in MirgUp's favour, which was soon published 
 about the palaces and cities : and every wish was, 
 that Adhim would resume the power of administer- 
 ing justice to his people, and not leave his slates in 
 the hands of the vizier Lemack. 
 
 Adhim caused the nuptials ofMirglip and Nou- 
 renhi to be celebrated with all magnificence ; and 
 JNIirglip, who had received so much from the hands 
 of his prince, easily submitted to the pageantry of 
 the court. 
 
 Two moons after the marriage of Mirglip, Adhim 
 eentfor his favourite, and reminded him of his pro- 
 mise; and told him, that he intended to pass for 
 the son of a nobleman, who was desirous of enjoy- 
 ing the instructions of his father-in-law. 
 
 Mirglip and JN'ourenhi were rejoiced to hear that 
 Adhiin intended to put his former resolution iu
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 395 
 
 execution ; for they were both anxious to see the 
 good Dervise of the groves, and to acquaint him 
 with the unexpected liberality of their prince: and 
 the constraint of a court was disagreeable to both, 
 as Nourenhi had too much virtue to give encourage- 
 ment to every fop that endeavoured to entertain 
 her, and Mirglip was too temperate to join in the 
 pleasure or the scandal of the emirs around him. 
 
 The time of their departure shortly arrived : 
 and the Sultan and his two companions, Mirglip and 
 Wourenhi, passed througli the eastern gate of the 
 citadel in palanquins, as part of the family of the 
 old emir Holam, whom the Sultan had intrusted 
 with the secret of his departure. 
 
 For three days they travelled eastward ; and on 
 the fourth they entered a plain, on the right of 
 which stood a noble grove of cedars and palms. 
 
 ' It isnow time,' said Mirglip(who was their guide), 
 * for us to send away these slaves back to Raglai, 
 that none may know the recess which hides our 
 father Phesoj Ecneps from the eye of power.' 
 
 The slaves being dismissed, Mirglip and his Sul- 
 tan, and the beauteous Nourenhi, walked forward 
 into the grove ; and the young Persian, by secret 
 marks, led them about iwo miles into the centre of 
 the grove. 
 
 The walk under the cedars and palms, though 
 irregular, was pleasant aud easy ; and the surface 
 of the earth was covered either with moss or sand, 
 which, as no sun could penetrate, was cool and re- 
 freshing to the feet of the travellers. 
 
 Having reached the centre of the grove, they be- 
 held a small irregular lawn, through which ran a 
 narrow clear stream; over this they passed, by the 
 assistance of a rough bridge, made of unhewn tim- 
 ber, which brought them towards a plantation of 
 laurels, plantains, youthful cedars, and small
 
 396 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 flowering shrubs. Through this delightful recess 
 they trod in mazy paths, till they beheld a second 
 lawn, smaller than the former, at the end of which 
 appeared a neat and plain cottage, yet light and 
 airy. 
 
 < Yonder,' said Mirglip, ' Sultan, is the retreat 
 of the happy Phesoj Ecneps : and now permit me 
 for a time to forget the honour due unto my prince, 
 and to look upon Adhim the Magnificent as the 
 pupil of the poor Dervise of the groves.' 
 
 ' The pupil of virtue, O IMirglip,' said the en- 
 raptured Adhim,' ismoreglorious than the monarch 
 of vice : and the soul of Adhim has more ardent 
 longings in this little spot, than it has ever expe- 
 rienced on the towers of Orez.' 
 
 To this the good Mirglip could make no reply ; 
 for he perceived the Dervise coming forth from his 
 cottage : and he ran and embraced the knees of his 
 friend and his father. 
 
 * My good Mirglip,' said Phesoj Ecneps, with a 
 joyous smile, ' you have made the heart of a poor 
 Dervise flutter withinhim ; a pleasing distress hangs 
 on me, and the bright beams of goodness on thine 
 eyes revive my sinking soul.' 
 
 ' Thou art 'indeed all goodness,' said Mirglip, 
 washing his trembling hands with tears; 'and so 
 full of virtue and wisdom, that you seem to behold 
 j'ourown perfections in the meanest of your friends; 
 if Mirglip has a thought that rises towards Heaven, 
 thou, with thy pious breath, hast blown it thither ; 
 from thee flows all the comforts I enjoy ; to thee be 
 all my praise.' 
 
 ' Mirglip,' said the Dervise gently, 'you have 
 a courtly phrase, and would soothe my ears with 
 prayers instead of praises : indeed, my good friend, 
 i am neither Alia, nor his Prophet, but a weak old 
 man, who cannot, by his taste, distinguish sweet
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 397 
 
 from sour; and therefore you do play upon my 
 weakness, as though I had forgotten that God were 
 alone the giver of every blessing.' 
 
 Mirglip blushed at the gentle reproof of the 
 good-natured Dervise, and was ashamed of that 
 part of his salute, which love rather than reason, 
 had dictated. 
 
 ' It is enough,' said Phesoj Ecneps : * forgive 
 me, Mirglip; you know I seldom chicle, unless my 
 God be slighted ; in his cause, though weakness be 
 our strength, yet must we ever arm, not to support 
 his power, but to declare our own obedience; for 
 all the host of Persia could not create a grain of 
 sand to swell his seas, or in his fleeting clouds sus- 
 pend one falling drop.' 
 
 * Lost in attention, I could ever hang upon the 
 honey of those lips : but thy fair daughter, the 
 beauteous Wourenhij'said Mirglip, ' is at hand, and 
 waits with a young Persian nobleman, who pants to 
 hear thy sweet instructive tongue.' 
 
 ' My daughter ! saidst thou, kind Persian, my 
 lost Nourenhi ! is she with thee on the plain? 6, 
 bring her to my arms, and tiiou shalt see me weaker 
 still than ever thou hastkiiown me !' 
 
 Mirglip was strongly affected at the passionate 
 expressions of the tender Dervise, and he feared he 
 had been loo precipitate in disclosing to him the 
 return of his daughter : but the fears of Mirglip 
 were unjust; for the tenderness of the father, when 
 Mirglij) led Ids daughter to the Dervise, didbutin- 
 creaso his piety to Alia. 
 
 * O righteous Alia!' said the affectionate parent, 
 as he embraced his daughter in his arms, ' blessed 
 be thy name, for thy comforts have refreshed my 
 soul ! Nevertheless, teach me, O Father of Life, to 
 love thee above all things !' 
 
 Adhim was not an idle spectator in this tender
 
 398 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 Interview ; for the piety of the Dervise enlarged 
 his soul, and he looked upward towards the hea- 
 vens, and contemplated his own meanness, and the 
 glories of Alia. 
 
 ' I see ! I see,' said the enraptured bultan, ' that 
 neither riches, nor honour, nor power, nor might. 
 iiorbcautv, nor dominion, can ennoV.e the soul of 
 man; which then only is most glorious, when it is 
 most' humble in itself, and most grateful to Alia !' 
 
 The Dervise, whose joy and pious sentiments at 
 the recovery of his daughter had for a few minutes 
 taken his thoughts from the stranger, was startled 
 at his exclamation, and excusing himself to him, 
 hesaid:—' Pardon me, noble stranger, in that I 
 have neglected to thank you for the honour you do 
 this poor cottage by your presence : but the calls of 
 nature are strong, and she will strive to be obeyed ; 
 in our weakness is her strength ; and happy are they 
 who do not always blindly follow her undistin- 
 guishing impulse. Attemperedby reason, and awed 
 by religion, her lively sallies are the great springs 
 of human actions ; and, had we uo passion, we 
 should need no instruction.' 
 
 * Alas !' continued the sage, ' I forget thatyour 
 natures, my children, (for so, O stranger, I esteem 
 all who enter under this roof), are harassed and ex- 
 hausted by the fatigues of your journey: rest, I pray 
 you, on these mossy seats, and I will set a few 
 roots, and a bowl of water, drawn fresh from the 
 stream, before you ; the poor Dervise of the groves 
 has nothing more to offer you : but even these, 
 perhaps,' said he, setting them before his guests, 
 ' may become grateful toyou,when youreflect,that 
 they are all the bounties and blessings of Alia ; and 
 that there is more wisdom discovered in the growth 
 of a root, than is displayed in the most sumptuous 
 entertainments of the Sultan of Persia.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 399 
 
 Adhim was pleased at the easy conversation of 
 the good Dervise, who on every subject found an 
 agreeable method of mixing his instructions with 
 his hospitality and good humour. 
 
 Afrer their frugal repast was finished, Mirglip 
 told the Dervise by what means he came possessed 
 of his daughter; and that the Sultan of Persia 
 had ordered the nuptials to be celebrated in his 
 own palace at Orez : and the good Persian was 
 happy in the opportunity of displaying his 
 generous sentiments before Adhim, who was unable 
 to suppress the relation. 
 
 Phesoj Ecneps was so much enraptured with 
 the description of Adhim, tliat he told the dis- 
 guised monarch, he was sure the Sultan must be 
 like him ; which so confounded Adhim, that he 
 had discovered himself to one whose eyes had not 
 been dimmed by study and age. 
 
 The fair Nourenhi then began her tale, from her 
 separation from the good Dervise her father, to the 
 meeting with Mirglip in the palace of Adhim. 
 
 ' You may remember, sir,' said she, ' we were 
 walking at the extremity of the grove of palms 
 and cedars, and sighing at the loss of ray dear 
 sister Kaphira, when the minions of the vizier Le- 
 inack arrived at the entrance of the wood, and, 
 seeing a female, pursued me through the groves : 
 it was in vain that you called upon me to stop ; I 
 feared that even the eloquence of my father would 
 be disregarded by the merciless brutes who were 
 sent by the proud vizier to ransack the provinces 
 of Persia: and therefore I fled; and with re- 
 luctance returned when two of them had over- 
 taken me in the wood. After we had reached 
 your presence, the distress of my father hung more 
 heavily on my imagination than the evils I was 
 likely to suffer; and even Mirglip was forgotten,
 
 400 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 when I saw the trickling tears steal softly down 
 the cheeks and the silver beard of my honoured 
 parent. 
 
 * The officers of the vizier showing their orders to 
 seize on every female they thought capable of 
 pleasing their master, my fiither found it in vain to 
 resist, and therefore only begged leave to speak a 
 few words in private to me, which Nourenhi never 
 can forget. 
 
 * ' My child,' said he, ' we are the creatures of 
 Alia ; and whatever the hand of power or oppres- 
 sion worketh, is by his permission : therefore bear 
 with calmness and moderation the afflictions of 
 life ; and in whatever station it shall please the 
 Just One to place thee, let this retirement of thy 
 father be never revealed.' 
 
 ' This was all I was suffered to hear ; the officers 
 si'.rrounded me, and carried me shrieking and 
 crying across the plain, toward the city of Raglai. 
 
 *In a few days we reached the vizier's palace, 
 and 1 found several hundred other virgins in the 
 same situation with myself: but they rejoiced at 
 their fortune; and what threw me into the greatest 
 distress, was to them the highest enjoyment. 
 
 ' The vizier Lemack selected but a few of our 
 number; among which, I unhappily, as I then 
 thought, was placed in a foremost rank : but the 
 gracious Alia, whose ways are unsearchable, made 
 me happy by denying me what I wished for ; and, 
 by sending me to the palace of the Sultan, gave 
 the virtuous Mirglip to my constant arms.' 
 
 ' And I,' said the good Phesoj Ecneps, embracing 
 his daughter, and the virtuous Mirglip, who arose 
 to kneel before him, ' I will constantly beseech the 
 Father of all men to sanctify and bless you ; nor 
 shall ye, my good children, despise the blessings 
 of your father, which Alia hath ever honoured 
 with peculiar efficacy.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN, 401 
 
 The good old man then entered warmly into the 
 praises of the generous Adliim ; and the disguised 
 Sultan was obliged to bear a disagreeable part in 
 his own praises, till evening warned the happy 
 family to retire to their respective couchps. 
 
 Two slaves were all that Phesoj Ecneps employed 
 in his household : one had formerly preserved hia 
 master's life beside a dangerous precipice ; and he, 
 the good Dervise would say, claimed a constant 
 return of tenderness, while that life remained 
 which he had preserved: the other, animated by 
 the bright pattern of his master's virtues, preferred 
 the eiijoyment of the good Dervise's presence to 
 the liberty he had frequently oiFered him. These 
 attended the disguised Sultan and the happy Mir- 
 glip to their separate apartments, where nothing 
 luxurious or inconvenient appeared. 
 
 Early in the dawn of morn, when the birds of the 
 grove began their natural hymns of praise for the 
 returning bounties of the day, the Dervise arose ; 
 and, dressed in a neat and artless simplicity, he en- 
 tered a small mosque, which was built at one ex- 
 tremity of his cottage, and where Mirglip, knowing 
 the custom of his father-in-law, had before brought 
 Adhim and Nourenhi. 
 
 The Dervise first saluted his guests with a pleasing 
 cheerfulness ; and then, putting on the robes of re- 
 ligion, he began the morning devotions of the 
 faithful ; mixing a lively sense of the mercies of 
 Alia with an humble dependence on his will, and 
 diffusing the heart-felt joy which possessed his soul 
 into the minds of his attentive family. 
 
 As he had finished his devotions, the much affect- 
 ed Adhim went toward him, and embracing him in 
 his arms; — ' O holy Dervise,' said he, * forgive my 
 amotions! but I must thank thy good religious 
 leart, for carrying me so near the heavens of my 
 2 D
 
 402 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 God! Could every Persian hear thee pray, the 
 mosque would be the seat of pleasure, and Adhim 
 our Sultan would leave the palace of Orez, to live 
 with thee in tlie temple of Alia.' 
 
 * My good and-noble pupil,' said Phesoj Ecneps, 
 gently squeezing his hand, ' I am pleased to find 
 you animated by the holy truths of religion : but 
 your transports incline me to believe, you have not 
 heretofore thought so frequently on the subject : 
 the voice of religion, my good friend, is still and 
 calm, is gentle and serene ; nor elevatedby passion, 
 nor depressed by despair, but constant and uni- 
 form, the result of 7'eason, SLXid the daughter of 
 truth ; born for the world, and living for each 
 other : religion aims not to hide us from mankind, 
 but to teach us the amiable lessons of social har- 
 mony, as well as the humble expressions of religious 
 hope. Each morn we rise, our duty first to God 
 we owe, and next to man : and to enter not the 
 mosque with prayer and thanksgiving, is an un- 
 pardonable neglect; but to hide ourselves always 
 in it, from the useful duties of life, would be to 
 bury those talents which Alia hath given us to 
 improve.' 
 
 ' But, reverend sage,' said Mirglip, * thou hast 
 taught thy guest but half thy virtues : for know, O 
 noble stranger, there is not a family within ten 
 leagues of this plain cottage, but feels the good 
 effect of Phesoj Ecneps' presence ; the youth of 
 either sex he places under proper tutors and direc- 
 tors, and makes the rising progeny of Persia both 
 loyal to their prince, and duteous to their God. 
 These streams, indeed, in secret flow : and as the 
 moon by night, which, though she but reflects the 
 vigorous rays of the overshadowed sun, seems not 
 to borrow, but to give her light ; so are the minds 
 of all this sage's neighbours cultivated, while few 
 can 6cc the light which kindles up their virtues.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAX. 403 
 
 ' The world,' said Phesoj Ecneps, ' gentle Mir- 
 glip, is unconfined by language or by seas; and 
 Persia, to this earth, appears but a spot : yet 
 even in Persia, the Dervise of the groves at present 
 is unknown : how weak then for the idle pigmy to 
 stretch his slender neck the distance of a grain of 
 rice, and fancy all men must admire him ! — But I 
 stop ; for much I fear, my words are but an exercise 
 for farther flattery : let us walk, my friends, around 
 the little spot, which I, with nature jointly, culti- 
 vate.' 
 
 The friendly company obeyed the voice of the 
 Dervise ; and the good Phesoj Ecneps, crossing the 
 lawn, led them into the rising plantation before his 
 cottage. 
 
 Here, in the irregular walks, they beheld severa- 
 seats, on which the Dervise looked with a pleasing 
 complacency, and seemed at sight of each to smother 
 in his mind some private thought. 
 
 ' Royal Adhim,' said Mirglip, whispering the Sul- 
 tan, * we shall lose a great part of our pleasure, in 
 this short excursion, if you do not notice the silent 
 transports of our friend.' 
 
 Adhim, obeying the impulse of Mirglip, went 
 towards the Dervise, and said : — ' Forgive me, gene- 
 rous Dervise, if I a moment interrupt your pleasing 
 meditations : but I see your countenance glow with 
 peculiar pleasure at each seat we visit; sure, some 
 fond remembrance strikes you; and if it were just 
 in us to ask it, that which gives such joy to Phesoj 
 Ecneps' virtuous soul , cannot but enli ven the hearts 
 of his obedient and attentive pupils.' 
 
 ' These seats,' said the good Dervise of the groves, 
 ' which first I raised to rest my wearied limbs, reflec- 
 tion dedicated to the memory of my virtuous friends, 
 whose loved imatres alternately strike my fancy as 
 I walk.— Perhaps to hear their different trials, and
 
 404 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 their constant victories over life's uncertain pas- 
 sions, may be no unpleasing entertainment ; at least 
 indulge my friendly zeal, which loves to show de- 
 served honours on religious actions.' 
 
 Thus spake the Dervise, and seated his company 
 beside him. 
 
 * The first memorial of friendship,' said he, * we 
 have already passed ; and, though dedicated to my 
 chief affections, I shall not affront my second friend, 
 whose idea here, by constant practice, fills my mind, 
 to sound another's praises in his little temple. This 
 scat, O EUor, was raised to thee. Sweet Ellor ! 
 gentle companion of my former years ! with thee I 
 trained my early mind to piety and virtue ; and, 
 polished by thy inviting converse, life lost her 
 rough ungrateful sting, and every change brought 
 comfort to my mind. 
 
 'This next sequestered seat,' said the good Der- 
 vise, walking onward, ' revives the memory of peace- 
 ful Yeliab ; a name sacred to every social virtue ; 
 whose heart, untroubled by ambition, yields only 
 to the tender calls of nature and humanity ; nor, 
 though secreted from the world, as is this bench 
 from the sun's fiery heat by the overspreading cedar, 
 is Yeliab therefore lost to public duties : the orphan 
 claims, without a fee, his just assistance j nor claims 
 in vain : and the poor do bless him daily fur bene- 
 volence unsought.' 
 
 The Dervise then passed out of the rising plan- 
 tation with his company, and led them beside the 
 small stream, till they arrived opposite two little 
 islands, which were planted with the overspreading 
 larix ; between which islands, a rock, covered with 
 shells, lifted up its irregular head. 
 
 ' These islands once,' said the good Dervise, 
 'were barren and uncovered; but with assiduous • 
 i-are I raised these waving heads upon them, and : 
 gave their naked surface the honours of the forest.'
 
 MIRGLir THE PERSIAN. 405 
 
 'Why, Dervise,' interrupted Adhim, 'it would 
 require the mightiest engines to move these trees.' 
 
 ' NoWy replied Phesoj Ecneps, ' it might : but 
 thy servant was content to raise their infant shoots 
 from the bursting seed : and every year hath blessed 
 me with a new appearance ; improving hourly on 
 my admiring fancy. I force not nature, gentle 
 pupil; but I court her, and see her wide-extended 
 arms return my love.' 
 
 The Sultan stood sometime admiring the magni- 
 ficent appearance of each island of larix ; and it 
 damped his pride, to reflect that the plantations of 
 the Dervise were gaining new vigour from every 
 returning sun, while his exhausted cedars were 
 drooping their majestic heads in the plains of Orez. 
 
 They had now reached a third seat, which looked 
 on the rock and the islands. 
 
 ' Lively Symac !' cried the Dervise, somewhat 
 elevated, ' here do we recollect thy bright and hu- 
 morous converse, where sprightliness took hand 
 with virtue, and laughter only pointed its keen 
 raillery at impudence and vice : nor laughter bred 
 intemperance, but was employed to elevate the soul, 
 and not misguide the passions : knowing that our 
 wise all-seeing Master gave us smiles to sweeten 
 life, thou dost make goodness cheerful, and restore 
 to slighted virtue the joys which sin hath long in 
 vain usurped : nor, loaded with the grievous pains 
 of sickness or affliction, sinks thy generous mind ; 
 but while torture wrecks thy face, thine eye still 
 sparkles, and, like the smothered flame, breaks 
 forth, and conquers every weight above it. 
 
 When life's amusing scenes are past ; when an- 
 guish cometh, and the dark long day is lengthened 
 out by bitterness of woe ; even then my Symac can 
 enjoy in fancy what is past, and in patience wait 
 the future mercies of the bounteous Alia. 
 
 * And here,' continued the good Dervise, ' beside
 
 400 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 liim is the seat of Eloc, calm and affable; a constant 
 worshipper of Alia and his Prophet ; one, whose 
 mild instructions sink deep, whose reason pleases, 
 and whose speech informs ; unsuspicious, easy, and 
 resigned, he views the stormy world with steady 
 eye, nor studies to avoid, by flight ungenerous, the 
 casual ills of life, nor fears to meet them.' 
 
 The good Dervise then led his pupils forward 
 toward the grove; where, mixed with opening spots 
 and sheltered walks, he brought them onward to 
 another seat. 
 
 ' Friend of my bosom, here Serahi holds my heart; 
 our mutual esteem from holy confidence arose, and 
 happy I beheld him the favourite of fortune, till a 
 sudden blast overset his prosperous bark, and every 
 former hope was lost. Then most I loved him, 
 rising from the furnace of affliction with a noble 
 mind, and leaving every tie of nature and of friend- 
 ship, to seek alone his means of living in a distant 
 clime ; where now, obedient to his Prophet's pre- 
 cepts, he teaches those around him not to trust the 
 flattering dreams of present life.' 
 
 Mirglip, perceiving the sage had finished his en- 
 comiums on Serahi, proceeded to the seat of Xorloc, 
 which was artfully hidden beneath the surrounding 
 branches which rose above it, 
 
 ' Concealed by studious labours from the world,' 
 said Phesoj Ecneps, ' yet never from my mind shall 
 IVorloc's righteous image stray, whose opening mind 
 surmounted all the obstructions penury could cast 
 upon it, and with eager and industrious toil fa- 
 thomed the depths of learning and of science. But 
 what, alas ! avail thy learned stores ? those whom 
 thou hast taught shall rise above thee, and thoui 
 find no reward on earth, that the just Alia may 
 reward thy patience more hereafter !' 
 
 ' But if the seat of Norloc,' said Mirglip, ' is
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAX. 407 
 
 concealed ; yonder bencb, however, is sufficiently 
 exalted, which looks upon half the provinces of 
 Persia, from the eminence of that steep and lofty 
 rock.' 
 
 ^ * We will ascend the mountain,' said the good 
 Dervise, * and examine the prospects which lie 
 before it; and when our minds are filled with the 
 wide-extended scenes in view we will still increase 
 our astonishment, by considering the extent of his 
 learning, to whom the summit of that rock is justly 
 dedicated.' 
 
 A spiral path, windingeasilyround the mountain, 
 soon brought the good I^rvise and his company to 
 the seat of Stebi; whence appeared, on the left 
 hand, the Caspian Sea, and before them, and on 
 the right, lay extended the wide dominions of Ad- 
 him the Magnificent. 
 
 * The view of this territory,' said the disguised 
 Sultan, ' would fill me with surprise, did I not re- 
 collect the promise of the Dervise, to lay open be- 
 fore me the wonderful acquisitions of his friends.' 
 
 * The realms you see before you,' said Phesoj 
 Ecneps, 'contain a people, among whom the Per- 
 sian language alone is used : but Stebi, the friend 
 of my bosom, is master of every various speech 
 which Asia knows ; nay more, doth understand the 
 dificrent languages, both of ancient and of modern 
 Europe. But to him, language is only the hand- 
 maid of knowledge; fraught with all the science of 
 each various clime, with all the wondi'ous truth 
 philosophy can teach, he climbs the heavens, and 
 explores the sparkling stars ; from orbs eccentric 
 drawing useful learning, and reading, in the wide 
 expanse, the mighty work of Him whose wisdom 
 planned the harmonious system of unnumbered 
 worlds.' 
 
 * Ke, then,' said Adhim, ' is worthy of a
 
 408 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 monarch's notice, and fit to take his station on the 
 towers of Orez, where Adhim hath invited the 
 learned sages of the empire to improve that useful 
 Btudy of the heavenly bodies.' 
 
 ' Alas !' said the good Dervise, ' what is merit, 
 when unassisted by a courtier's smile ?' 
 
 'True,' answered Adhim (who well understood 
 the artifices of courts,) ' the officers of state esteem 
 each place their perquisite; and monarchy itself 
 must yield to them, and give his courtiers' friends 
 those honours, which more justly, in his private 
 mind, he would confer on modest merit.' 
 
 Mirglip smiled at the observation of the dis- 
 guised Sultan ; but he, •willing to wave the dis- 
 course, descended from the mountain, and looking 
 forward, said to the good Dervise of the groves, 
 ' To whom is that seat dedicated, which I perceive 
 is formed of rugged roots, and seems to offer but 
 little comfort to those who will venture to seat 
 themselves upon it?' 
 
 ' This place,' said Phesoj Ecneps, walking up 
 to it, ' myself did raise, in fond remembrance of 
 Smadac's zealous friendship and unhappy fate, 
 that I might not er.joy an ungenerous ease, while 
 my anxious thoughts did wander over his cruel for- 
 tunes. But why do I call them cruel, since the 
 abstemious youth has but increased his virtues by- 
 forbearance? The trials and the conflicts of life 
 are no misfortunes, when victory succeeds ; and 
 Smadac's fame shall ever be remembered, who 
 dared, with filial piety, encounter love.' 
 
 * And love so chaste and temperate,' said Mir- 
 glip, interrupting the good Dervise, ' that might do 
 honour to the breast of purity itself; and which, 
 (nor vain my augury) our holy Prophet shall ere 
 long reward.' 
 
 * It must, then,' answered the Dervise, 'first 
 meet with parental blessings ; for Heaven seldom
 
 MinQLTP THE PERSIAN. 409 
 
 smiles when parents frown. Sometimes, indeed, 
 by fortune blinded, or by age misled, forgetful of 
 his offspring's real happiness, the parent urges his 
 authority beyond the laws of God or man ; com- 
 manding breach of oaths, or forced unnatural 
 union; then Alia must be first obeyed ; for parents, 
 who derive their power from him, can ])lead no 
 power to break his holy laws : but often er far, 
 thoughtless affection springing from fancy or from 
 chance, the present good unfelt, the world untried, 
 and dreams of happiness which never shall be 
 found, stir up the children to engage in miserable 
 alliance ; these to prevent with tender care, by 
 mildness and affection, doth well become a parent's 
 thought, whose riper judgment hath already tried, 
 the various scenes of life ; whose expectations, 
 checked by the cold hopeless whispers of ex- 
 perience, lead not to the air-built fancies of a love- 
 sick brain. 
 
 'Yet far from me be speech which aims dis- 
 honour on the nuptial vow, by soundest policy ap- 
 proved, by every wise man honoured, and by Alia 
 sanctified ; the lawless voice of wild disorder shall 
 cast its scoffs in vain against connubial truth, 
 where friendship holds its purest empire over the 
 Boul ', where love triumphant reigns ; and from 
 whose fruitful progeny spring all the sweet endear- 
 ing blessings of society, the harmonies of nature. 
 
 ' But let us quit,' said the good Dervise, ' this 
 melancholy scene, and rest awhile, in yonder com- 
 fortable bower with easy smiling Rezaliph ; who, 
 were he here, would join his ready voice to deck 
 our matrimonial triumphs.' 
 
 * He is then,' said the disguised Adhim, * the 
 father of a family ?' 
 
 ' Yes,' continued the good Dervise ; ' two smiling 
 boys hang on Ids knees, like clusters on the vine;
 
 410 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 and Rezaliph is ever studious to implant his virtues 
 on their infant minds.' 
 
 ' The man who trains his children in the paths of 
 virtue,' said Adhim, Ms the best subject that a 
 monarch knows.' 
 
 'And feel?,' said Mirglip, 'the most exalted 
 pleasures of the human heart; nor, when out- 
 stretched upon the bed of death, can he be said to 
 die, whose virtues, multiplied through all his race, 
 reflect his righteous image to succeeding worlds.* 
 
 The happy family of Phesoj Ecneps passed on- 
 ward from the seat of Rezaliph, through a narrow 
 path shaded with the noblest trees of the grove ; 
 and advanced towards a small but beautiful lawn, 
 round which were planted several lofty trees, under 
 each of which the disguised Sultan beheld the 
 seats of friendship, and at the extremity of the 
 lawn he perceived the cottage of the good Dervise 
 of the groves. 
 
 The Sultan stood some time amazed ; not con- 
 sidering that his walk had been circular, and that 
 he was again returned round to the lawn which he 
 had left : but he was satisfied of the deception, 
 when he observed on one side of the lawn, the 
 bench which they had first passed, without being 
 acquainted with the virtues of him to whom it was 
 dedicated. 
 
 ' I see,' said the good Dervise to him, ' that you 
 are resolved I shall not forget my friend, whom I 
 have placed under yonder spreading cedar of Le- 
 banon; first in my esteem, though last in the order 
 of our walk. But here is also one, under this dark 
 and majestic cork-tree, whom even Adhim our 
 Sultan would rejoice to know. Nael £caf, the 
 friendly and the upright; in just integrity of hearti 
 and steady virtue, second to none. 
 
 ' Nor is Talpar, the mild and affable, to be for- 
 gotten ; nor the tender bounteous heart of Gapsac,
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 411 
 
 ever smiling on his friend ; nor the noble spirit of 
 Eirruc, indefatigable in his generous attachments : 
 these each doth Phesoj acknowledge as his friends, 
 and holds their kindness as Alla's choicest blessing ; 
 who gave us social virtue, that in some degree we 
 might experience Heaven's holiest attribute, — un- 
 bounded love.' 
 
 ' The next seat,' said Mirglip, passing onward, 
 
 * is unworthy of our good Dervise's notice.' 
 
 * What !' replied Phesoj Ecneps, smiling, 'shall 
 I forcret my son-in-law, whom I have placed under 
 thisshady and elegant tulip-tree? No. Kind stranger, 
 this tree Is dedicated to the memory of my dear 
 Mirglip : and see how I have suited the temple to 
 the inhabitant ; how open and expanded are the 
 leaves of this tree, like the generous actions of him 
 they are designed to represent ! how noble and 
 erect, and yet how pleasing ! the stem, like the 
 resolute virtues of the affable Mirglip : and see, to 
 mark him more, how exactly are the leaves of this 
 tree indented !' 
 
 Adhim smiled at the cheerful sallies of the good 
 Dervise ; and, walking forward toward an acacia, — 
 
 * To whom,' said the disguised Sultan, ' is this airy 
 tree dedicated ? whom are we to recollect under its 
 shade ?' 
 
 * One/ said Phesoj, * who is like that tree, both 
 pleasing and agreeable while the sunshine of life is 
 upon him ; but when the clouds arise, and the winds 
 prevail, the acacia is not more torn and broken with 
 the blast, than Maroh is by the violence of his pas- 
 sion : yet, who is free from weakness, or released 
 from error? who can, through every scene of life, 
 with action just and manner blameless, support the 
 perfectcharacter of faultless man? If such there be,' 
 continued the good Dervise, going up to the wide- 
 spreading cedar, and bowing before the seat, * here,
 
 412 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 stranger, shall we find the picture : yes, friend of 
 my bosom, bright example whom I wish to copy, 
 holy Dervise of Sumatra ! thou art he whom Genius 
 with her choicest stores hath not honoured more, 
 than Virtue hath adorned with every godlike quality 
 of mind : to thee I look, as to the spring and foun- 
 tain of all the knowledge I enjoy ; but chiefly hast 
 thou taught my wondering soul the mighty depths 
 of Alla's law ; Vaised and instructed my darkened 
 sight, and over my wandering thoughts cast all the 
 amiable light of heavenly love. But who can paint 
 the various virtues of thy soul, or give thy full 
 idea to the admiring world, as parent, husband, 
 friend ; as citizen of earth ; as worshipper of Alia, 
 or teacher of mankind ? Though fraught with all 
 the useful knowledge of the world, yet easy, 
 gracious, and mild, you seem to learn from those 
 whom you with sweet complacency instruct. — Nor, 
 though by every good man loved, admired, and 
 reverenced, can pride overwhelm thy modesty of 
 thought!' 
 
 ' What!' said Adhim, starting, 'who is this of 
 whom you speak in such fond raptures? By Mir- 
 "glip's fame I was first roused to love of virtue, and 
 looked on him as the great pattern of superior 
 excellence: but he still onward led me, and de- 
 scribed the temperate lessons of his father Phesoj 
 Ecneps, as the seed whence his virtue sprang. 
 And now that I attentive watch thy much-instruc- 
 tive speech, thou again dost raise my fancy upward 
 to the pious Dervise of Sumatra's rocks.* 
 
 * And he,' said the good Dervise Phesoj Ecneps, 
 ' were he here, would raise thy admiring passions 
 higher still, and fix them on that God, whose wor- 
 ship he best knows, and best can teach mankind.' 
 
 Mirglip was alike struck with the astonishment 
 of Adhim, and the friendship of the good Dervise;
 
 MIRGLTP THB PERSIAN. 413 
 
 and he every moment expected, that, in the midst 
 of his emotions, the disguised Sultan would dis- 
 cover his quality to Phesoj Ecneps. 
 
 The sun had now nearly attained the summit of 
 his course, when the Dervise led his company from 
 the cedai' to his homely cottage ; where, after a 
 frugal meal, they retired to their repose. 
 
 The evening was spent like the morning, in view- 
 ing the delightful prospects around the cottage of 
 the Dervise, and sometimes resting on the seats 
 which he had placed in the diflferent parts of the 
 country for the reception of his guests. 
 
 But each seat supplied the good Dervise with an 
 opportunity of inculcating some moral or religious 
 truth, or holding to the view of his pupils some 
 eminent example of virtue or friendship ; some- 
 times firing their emulous souls with a description 
 of public patriots ; and then, at others, recommend- 
 ing the amiable patterns of private and domestic 
 virtue : among the latter, none were more engaging 
 than the character of the mild and blameless 
 Stevar, to whose memory the good Dervise had 
 erected a seat among his dejjarted friends. 
 
 ' Stevar,' said Phesoj Ecneps, * though bred 
 where virtue more is blasted by the rude attack of 
 sin, than countenanced or cherished, yet, amidst 
 the boisterous elements of wind and seas, preserved 
 an heart untainted with his comrades' vices; nor 
 clime, nor custom, could pervert his honest soul ; 
 nor specious argument, nor certain prospects of 
 unbounded wealth, could shake his firm unalterable 
 virtue.' 
 
 The remembrance of the tender Stevar drew tears 
 of friendship from the Dervise and his son-in-law; 
 vvhile Adhim, who never in his court had expe- 
 rienced the amiable efieets of that social passion, 
 gave thanks to Alia, who had kindly introduced
 
 414 MIRGIilP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 him to those who were thus capable of elevating 
 his nature, and giving him a higher relish of life 
 than the pompous luxuries of the court of Persia 
 could teach him. 
 
 Several weeks passed thus agreeably ; and the 
 Sultan was every day so much enamoured with the 
 delightful recess of the good Dervise, that he had 
 little desire to return to his palace at Orez: how- 
 ever, the more he admired the lessons of virtue, the 
 more he saw the necessity of putting her maxims 
 in practice, where Providence had placed him as 
 a light to others : and he was about to disclose 
 himself to the good Dervise, and require his farther 
 counsel in the arduous affairs of public justice, 
 when a hasty messenger arrived in the grove where 
 the family of Phesoj Ecneps was retired. This 
 messenger was no other than Bereddan, the son of 
 the emir Holam ; who, in the garb of a poor pea- 
 sant, had wandered from Raglai in search of his 
 master. 
 
 ' Ah!' said the Sultan starting, ' who art thou, 
 O young man ? why art thou clothed in these mean 
 garments ? and why doth thy face betray so much 
 anxiety of heart?' 
 
 * Alas !' answered Bereddan, ' once lord of all thy 
 slaves, but now a traitor deemed in his own realms ! 
 flight only can preserve my royal master from the 
 furj' of the usurper Lemack, who hath bribed the 
 tribes of Xeri, and the captains of thine host, to 
 call him Sultan of Persia. The cities of Raglai" 
 groan under the tyrannies of thy vizier, while a 
 chosen setof villains, the creatures of Lemack, were, 
 four days past, commanded to seek thee in these 
 groves, and brins thy head a tribute to their proud 
 usurper. One of their numle", repenting of his 
 intended crime, came hastily to me, and told me, 
 ere an hour was passed, the troops to which he be-
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 415 
 
 longed were ordered to surround my father's dwell- 
 ing ; and, having made him their guide to you, my 
 lord, they were to strike off his head, with the head 
 of my Sultan, and bring them both to Lemack's 
 court at Orez. — Astonished at the vile command, I 
 called a peasant into my father's palace, and 
 changing garments with him, while Holam escaped 
 in a different disguise, I bade him make what use 
 he pleased of my more dangerous trappings; and, 
 mounted on an Arabian courser, I rode both day 
 and night to save my royal master's life. The fleet 
 and noble beast bore me with what speed he could, 
 till I arrived within two leagues of this habitation, 
 where, fainting through loss of strength, I was con- 
 strained to leave him, and have happily explored 
 this deep recess ; which, with all its secrecy, can 
 never long hide my prince from Lemack's malice.' 
 The astonishment of Adhim the Sultan was not 
 greater at the recital of Bereddan's tale, than was 
 the wonder of the good Dervise when he perceived 
 that he had been entertaining the Sultan of Persia 
 in his humble cottage : he fell immediately at the 
 feet of Adhim, and besought his pardon for the 
 boldness of his speech; but the genei'ous Sultan, 
 seeing him on the earth, stooped to raise hirn up ; 
 and assured him he should ever hold him chief in 
 his esteem. 
 
 A hollow noise, like the feet of horses hasting 
 f through the wood, increased the consternation of 
 ) Adhim and his friends; and they all advised him 
 to strike through the most unfrequented paths, and 
 1 conceal himpelf in some remote part of the forest, 
 I. till the rebel troops should be withdrawn from the 
 jj groves and country which surrounded the good 
 |i Dervise Phcsoj Ecneps. 
 
 \ ' The love of life,' said Adhim, ' is small inducc- 
 li meut to my flight; which were I unprepared to
 
 416 MIKGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 lose, when fate shall take it, I were indeed unworthy 
 of a crown, and most unfit to stand upon the tot- 
 tering ver!2:e of power : but to desert my station, or 
 yield to evil when virtue bids me draw the avenging 
 eteel of justice; this werebaser flight than to avoid 
 prevailing multitudes, and hide me for a time from 
 superior malice : w herefore, friends, adieu ! and 
 Heaven grant my present flight bring future victory 
 and peace to Persia !' 
 
 Thus spake the monarch, and hasted from the 
 presence of his friends, while Bereddan and Mirglip 
 were disputing which ought to follow their lord, 
 and which remain with the good Dervise of the 
 groves. At length, Bereddan prevailed on Mirglip 
 to remain with Phesoj Ecneps, and his wife Nou- 
 renhi; and the son of the emir endeavoured to 
 follow the footsteps of his wandering lord. 
 
 Adhimflew swiftly through the walks of Phesoj 
 Ecneps to the neighbouring woods, where, pene- 
 trating into the thickest part of the forest, he wan- 
 dered onward,but not without frequent alarms from 
 the wild beasts that surrounded him. At the close 
 of the evening, he entered a deep valley, sheltered 
 on all sides with noble and majestic cedars ; and 
 on the foot of a mountain found a small opening, 
 which led him under its side. 
 
 Dubious of his course, he knew not whether he 
 might safely enter the cavern or not, as it was pro- 
 bable some beast of the forest did use it as his den. 
 In the midst of his doubt, he heard a voice calling 
 unto him : — ' Adhim ! thou lord of Persia, fear 
 not!' 
 
 The voice from the cavern did rather increase 
 the dread of Adhim than encourage him to enter; 
 and he essayed to run from its mouth, when a small 
 iigure appeared at its entrance. 
 
 'Adhim,' said ^'adan, * fear not; I am Nadan 
 
 II
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 417 
 
 the guardian of this forest, and the friend of virtue. 
 — * Whate'er thou art/ said Adhim, ' if thy heart 
 is warmed by virtue's sacred flame, thou c^anst not 
 deal inhospitably with a stranger, though, by thy 
 speech, the wretched Adhim is no stranger to thee.' 
 
 * Adhim, indeed,' said Nadan, * is wretched, and, 
 though deserving of compassion, yet not free from 
 error : born for thy people's happiness, thy noble 
 heart did much mistake its pleasures, when it 
 sought renown and comfort in the deep-dug quarry, 
 or the mouldering turret : these can no more en- 
 noble man, than may the barren towery rock boast 
 more utility than the fertile vale. Be useful, and 
 be great: hence alone can justice raise thy fame, 
 and millions bless thy fostering care: hence alone 
 can spring the heart-feltpleasuresof a noble mind ; 
 which never, unless in blessing others, can be blest 
 itself. Survey the wide-extended earth, its steep- 
 formed rocks and monntains raised beyond the 
 clouds ; yet these, tremendous to a human eye, 
 are, to the globe, no more than insects on the rind 
 of yonder majestic cedar: what, then, are the la- 
 bours of thy puny race, unless some future good 
 to man do sanctify the builder's toil ? what, but 
 the weak effect of blind, erroneous pride, mistaking 
 both the means and end of what it aims to compass ? 
 Pride, indeed, directed to its proper object, is noble ; 
 or rather, to form my speech in fitter terms, I should 
 call it emulation, and the brave spirit of a godlike 
 Isoul, which stirs your race to every exercise of 
 virtue ; which marks the life of him who wears it 
 ^with distinguished honour; and gives mankind 
 itliat best of characters, — a virtuous patriot. For, 
 |think not. Sultan, that in the sequestered vale 
 
 one dwells virtue, and her sweet companion, 
 [with extensive eye, mild, affable benevolence : no; 
 jthe first great gift we can bestow on others is a 
 2 E
 
 418 MIRGLir THE PERSIAN. 
 
 good example : and he, wlio in his private life doth 
 combat every duty, and lives at variance with do- 
 mestic virtue, shall vainly ape the generous figure 
 of his country's patriot j for what are the blessings 
 of society, but those which in a lesser scale we meet 
 at home, — peace, honour, faith, and love? Will he, 
 then, O prince, who gives up these within his house, 
 cherish and extend their influence abroad ? or can 
 the man, who rives a parent's heart, and curses 
 those wliom he is bound to bless, be ever deemed a 
 friend sincere by those he knows not ? Sooner shall 
 the stork, leaving its nest, regardless of the calls 
 its little offspring vainly utter to demand its care, 
 roam to some distant rock, and nurse, officiously, 
 the eagle's brood ; sooner shall man stab man, to 
 feed the hungry lion's mouth ; and call his murder 
 charity ! — Thenlearn, thefirst advance to real fame 
 is private virtue ; which, though rooted in domestic 
 love, must yet extend its branches till it reach the 
 farthest boundaries of nature. Hence springs 
 temperance in yourself, to others justice; hence, 
 the sweet calm of an approving conscience, more 
 valuable than the loud applause of tumult, or of 
 multitudes. — Nor yet, prince, despise the voice 
 of fame; which, though overbearing in its first 
 career, grows calm as it extends, and mellows into 
 truth : it is noble to deserve applause ; and he who 
 scorns the censure of mankind is more the slave of 
 sullen pride, than conscious of desert; the best 
 may pity, when deluded men affront the virtue 
 which deserves their praise ; but fools alone deride 
 the public clamour of misguided subjects, whom it 
 were better far by mildness to convince, than by 
 neglect enrage.' 
 
 ' Noble stranger,' answered Adhim, ' I admire 
 thy gentle and deserved reproofs, and doubt not i 
 but some superior being animates thy frame.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 419 
 
 *I am indeed,' said Nadan, 'of that celestial 
 race, which watches over the actions of mankind; 
 ■who may advise, but cannot force the human will. 
 But, prince, awhile forget the base pursuit of Le- 
 mack and his ruffians : to-night, within the cavern 
 rest your wearied limbs, secure from danger or sur- 
 prise ; for this retreat is impervious to all but those 
 who are the friends of virtue.' 
 
 Thus saying, the Genius Nadan led the Sultan 
 Adhim into his cavern ; which, though narrow in 
 its entrance, was within both beautiful and spacious. 
 Elegant spars and stones, polished by nature, formed 
 the inside of the cavern, which was enlightened by 
 a magnificent diamond that hung in the middle, 
 and, wliich reflected its bright lustre on the stones 
 around it. 
 
 iS'adan set before his guest the fruits of the fo- 
 rest, and entertained him with his conversation j 
 so tliat the Sultan seemed still to be in the company 
 of the good Dervise of the groves. 
 
 ' My Sultan,' said IiTadan, ' has been mi^led by 
 his courtiers. Alia, O Adliim, gave thee the com- 
 mand of his faithful people, the inhabitants of Per- 
 sia ; and thou hast given thine inheritance to an- 
 other ; to one who was unworthy of the seat be- 
 neath thee, yet hast thou exalted him above thy- 
 self : he who seeth only through a favourite's eye, 
 shall soon have no other sight to guide his ignorant 
 uninstructed will ; the counsel of the wise and good 
 is a prince's best security ; yet even the best coun- 
 sellor shall not always advise what is right, but in 
 themultitudeof sages is the truth. It is not the 
 sun, though gloiious in its course ; it is not the air, 
 thnush sweet and salubrious ; it is not the earth, 
 though the great womb of nature ; it is not -the 
 water, though reficshing and cooling : it is neither 
 of these akme which giveth life and health to the
 
 420 MIKGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 corn ; but all, in their several degrees combine to 
 form the blade, and till the bursting seed.— But, 
 continued the Genius, ' those limbs, unused to toil, 
 require repose: and see Adhim, at the extremity 
 of my cavern, are the sofas of rest.' 
 
 The Sultan obeyed the Genius, although his mind 
 was desirous of still farther converse, and extended 
 his weary limbs uj.on the sofas of jVadan. 
 
 The sun, which, at the first approach of day, cast 
 its bright beams into the cavern of Nadan, awaken- 
 ed the Sultan; and he sprang upward, revived by 
 the wholesome entertainment of the Genius, and 
 searched for him in the cavern, that he might 
 thank his benefactor. But Adhim having in vain 
 sought for the friendly Genius, issued out of the 
 cavern, and beiran his course towards the city of 
 Raglai, directing his steps by the sun. 
 
 The Sultan travelled all day, and at night he 
 ascended a broad-spreading palm, and rested on its 
 boughs. 
 
 Adhim continued his journey two days more, sub- 
 sisting on wild fruits; and at noon he rested under 
 the shade of the trees of the forest, and at night 
 slept upon the wide-extended bianche?. 
 
 On the fourth day, as he finished his repast, and 
 was about to compo*'e himself on a bed of heaves, 
 he heard a rustling among the trees; and, starting 
 up, he perceived a female walking in the solitary 
 paths ot the wood. The sight of the female stirred 
 up tiie passions of Adhim : but his heart beat with 
 double violence, when he jierceived the form of the 
 beauteous fair-one was as the form of Xourenhi, the 
 wife of Mirglip. 
 
 * Ah !' said the panting Sultan, ' dost thou wan- 
 der, elegant Nourenhi, among these secret paths ? 
 Dost thou seek me in the forest ? Dost thou force 
 me to tliy irresistible charms? Then justice sleep,
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 421 
 
 and passion lead the way ; nature is frail, and thou 
 ■with a new blaze of beauty dost call me ft)rth to 
 love. Yet hold, O trembling Adhim, stop thy for- 
 ward limbs while virtue still commands them, nor 
 yield thy body up a prey to violence and base in- 
 gratitude ; thy pleasure will be fleeting like the 
 passing clouds, and mixed with passion, cruelty, 
 and horror ; then shame, with all her stings, and 
 dark remorse, succeeds ; thy friend distressed, thy- 
 self abandoned, and life's fair blossom nipped by 
 cankered thoughts, and conscience's keen remon- 
 strance : but how to move from such a scene of 
 beauty ! these sluggard limbs rebel, and every pas- 
 sion urges to possession. Ah ! Adhim, thou art but 
 half converted by the Dervise's good example, or 
 Nadan's firmer speech : to thee, the base usurper 
 Lemack is a saint, and thou dost seek to turn thy 
 Mirglip's only subject from her loyalty.' 
 
 As passion and honour thus took alternate pos- 
 session of the breast of Adhim, he observed thefair- 
 one marked his advance, but seemed not fearful of 
 his approach. This rekindled the fires of his 
 heart, and he ran and fell at the feet of the lovely 
 female. 
 
 ' O Nourenhi,' said the admiring Adhim, ' fl/ 
 from the base Adhim, who, forgetful of himself, of 
 Mirglip, and the good Dervise,doth wish his noble- 
 ness of heart had never given thee from his longing 
 arms ! Ah ! did I call it nobleness, to yield to the 
 slave Mirglip such grace and elegance of form, as 
 nature made to bless a sovereign's love ! No ; by 
 my soul, it was basely done, to sacrifice thy beau- 
 ties to the cold, dull dictates of that phantom jus- 
 tice, which, when rigidly exerted, doth rather turn 
 to injury than blessing! — Ah,' continued the Sultan, 
 pausing; * see Nadan, Phesoj Ecneps, calls! see 
 Mirglip bares his bleeding breast, and warns me to
 
 422 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 ^lc^ist ! And, oh, metliiiiks the gracious Alia, toe, 
 looks down upon me, and, armed with terrors and 
 with vengeful thunder, writes his perfect law, in 
 vivid flashes, on the clouds. I jield, 1 yield, holy 
 -nirits of my friends! and thou, far holier God, I 
 yield! O, frame not such tremendous vengeance 
 for a worm ; but spare, and I obey !' 
 
 The beauteous female was astonished at the pro- 
 strate Sultan, who, having cauafht the hem of her 
 irarment, held her while he spake. 
 
 ' Whate'er thou art,' said she, ' O stranger, 
 (whom, by thy speech and noblenessof soul, I judge 
 no despicahle parent claims), fly swiftly from this 
 dangerous place, where dark invisible spells sur- 
 round thee, and where Falri holds his uncontrolled 
 reign. But if I judge ariq;ht, you called yourself 
 tlie royal Adhim, or fancy did beguile my credulous 
 ciir. Alas, sir ! here, too, doth the vicious Lemack 
 oft resort ; and such sad scenes of horror have 
 these eyes beholden, as make me tremble at your 
 fate, should Fahi or his friend discover where you 
 wander.' 
 
 ' Who, then,' said Adhim, in amaze, ' art thou, O 
 daujzhter of the earliest light ? for, as I gaze, new 
 beiiuties break upon me, and you seem most fair, 
 to make your friend most miserable "? Art thon not 
 Nourcnhi, the wife of Mirglip, the daughter of the 
 Dervise of the groves V 
 
 ' I am/ replied the fair one, ' daughter of the 
 Dervise of the proves, the sister of Nourenhi, the 
 friend of Mirglip, the wretched, lost, unfortunate 
 Kajjhira !' 
 
 'Then,' answered Adhim, 'O holy Prophet, I 
 do thank thee : my friend is satisfied and I am 
 blessed. — Yes, fair Kaphira,* continued he, ' I am 
 Adhim, once lord of Persia, but now thy humblest 
 slave ; and rather had I live with thee in this dark
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 423 
 
 gloomy forest, thun again ascend my throne, and 
 leave thee to another.' 
 
 ' Alas, sir !' answered the lovely Kaphira, ' my 
 deep concern lest Falri should approach, does make 
 me hear you with an aching heart/ 
 
 'Sure, lovely maid,' answered the Sultan, 'if 
 thou canst escape his rage, Adhim has but little to 
 fear from this vile sorcerer.' 
 
 * Noble sir,' replied Kaphira, ' my tale might 
 seem tedious to gain the attention of a monarch's 
 ear; and at present we are unsafe, as much I fear 
 some secret spies do watch your footsteps ; for on 
 every tree hang some foul imps of Fulri's, ready to 
 execute his horrid purpose.' 
 
 As the fair Kaphira spoke, Adhim looked around, 
 and saw the bloated Falri approach, surrounded by 
 satyrs and monsters of the forest ; the sight of 
 whom created both horror and disgust. 
 
 ' If,' said the resolute Sultan, drawing his sabre, 
 ' I cannot conquer, yet to yield were base : where- 
 fore, fear not, adorable Kaphira; for while this 
 arm retains its wonted strength, nor Falri, nor his 
 vile associates, shall aj^proach to hurt thee.' 
 
 ' I would to Heaven, O kind sir,' answered Ka- 
 phira, ' you were as well secured as I am. But see, 
 the monsters stop, as if they saw you not, and 
 seem to wind toward the left, and seek the cave of 
 their beastly master.' 
 
 ' By my honour,' said the Sultan, ' their base 
 neglect bears harder on my pride than would their 
 utmost malice, had they dared my fury. What 
 can this mean? Is every feature then of royalty de- 
 stroyed, that the fell ruffians knew not whom they 
 sought ? or feared the cowards to meet an angry 
 and offended prince?' 
 
 ' Majestic Adhim,' answered Kaphira, sweetly, 
 ' thy form, alas ! would instantly betray its noble 
 master, did not some secret power defend thee.'
 
 484 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 ' Perhaps,' said the Sultan, recollecting himself, 
 ' I derive my safety from this curious ring, which, 
 on the morning when I awaked on the sofa of the 
 Genius Nadan, I found upon my finger.' 
 
 * Kind Genius Nadan,' answered Kaphira, ' hast 
 thou too given thy just protection to this noble 
 prince ? Yes, royal sir,' continued the fair one, 
 showing him a ring like that he wore, ' these both, 
 I am assured, are Nadan's presents: and we are 
 safe alike from Falri and his charms.' 
 
 * If such security attends us,' answered the Sul- 
 tan Adhim, ' permit me to ask by what strange 
 misfortune were you brought into these confines of 
 the cave of Falri?' 
 
 * Prince,' answered the fair Kaphira, ' as I was 
 walking in the grove of my good father, the Dervise 
 Phcsoj Ecneps, I observed a small golden ball before 
 me in the path : pleased with the shining novelty, I 
 endeavoured to take it up ; but as I stooped, it roll- 
 ed forward before me ; and I, eager to obtain it, 
 followed it beyond the limits of my father's grove. 
 
 * No sooner had I set my foot upon the plain 
 whicii is the boundary of the grove, than I per- 
 ceived the ball to swell: startled at the sight, I en- 
 deavoured to run back into the grove ; but either 
 fear or magic deprived me of motion, and I was 
 constrained to stand, and view the farther wonders 
 before me. 
 
 * The ball continued to swell for several minutes, 
 till it hid the distant hills from my sight; when, 
 bursting with a violent noise, it flew into ten thou- 
 sand pieces, and discovered a bloated, ferret-eyed 
 wretch, mounted upon a bristly boar. 
 
 * ' The wild intemperate love of novelty,' said 
 the wretch to me, * has ever been the ruin of your 
 sex : at first allured by shining trifles, they pursue 
 in wantonness, and inattentive follow beyond the
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 425 
 
 prudent limits of paternal care. While Kaphira was 
 contented with her father's grove, Fair! in vain at- 
 tempted to molest her; but now, fate has resiijned 
 thee to my arms, and thou shalt bless my nuptial 
 bed with many a monster like myself.' 
 
 * I shrieked aloud at the voice of Falri ; but in 
 vain; the monster, descending from his beast, 
 seized me round the waist, and, putting me upon 
 the bristly boar, he seated himself behind me, and 
 we were borne away with such swiftness, that I 
 knew not how we went. 
 
 ' In a few hours we entered this forest, and 
 through winding paths were brought in view of 
 Falri's filthy cave. New horrors seized me at the 
 sight of such a variety of filthiness; which were 
 still increased, when Falri bade me welcome to his 
 native palace ; and told me, the marriage-rites 
 were needless, as he doubted not his love would 
 last, at least, as long as mine. 
 
 ' As we entered the cave of Falri, I was surprised 
 to see a little personage standing at the upper end ; 
 and, supposing it was some relation of the sor- 
 cerer's, I cast my eyes on the ground, and would 
 not look upon him. 
 
 ' ' Fair slave,' said Falri, as we entered, to me, 
 (* for I allow no higher character to your sex, than 
 that of ministering to our pleasures,) here you are 
 secure, as, by my magic power, I do forbid your 
 regress from this forest, unless Falri approve your 
 flight.' 
 
 * Thunderstruck at the words of Falri, and at 
 his countenance, which shone with beastly lust, I 
 sighed, and returned no answer to his imperious 
 commands. 
 
 * * Fair Kaphira,' said the little personage, * fear 
 not ; I am the Genius Nadan, and no relation of 
 Falri, as you suppose. I am here invisible to that
 
 426 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 beastly sorcerer; neither can he hear the words of 
 my mouth. I cannot, indeed, release you, because 
 your intemperate curiosity has misled you; but, 
 since you erred in innocence, I can baffle the de- 
 sign of Falri.— Here,' continued he, extending^ his 
 hand, ' put on this ring ; and you shall be invisible 
 to Falri and his accursed friends, so long as you 
 remain in this forest of the enchanter.' 
 
 • I instantly took the ring from the gentle Nadan 
 with thankful eyes; and, fixing it on ray finger, I 
 perceived the countenance of Falri to change. 
 
 ' ' Ah !' said he, * art thou fled, proud child of 
 Phe^oj Ecneps? then are my enchantments vain, 
 and the power which I worship is accursed.' 
 
 ' ' No,' answered the Genius Nadan, 'thou ac- 
 cursed slave, Kaphira is held in the forest of Falri 
 by the sorceries of thy art ; but she shall, if she 
 please, be ever invisible to thee and thy friends, so 
 long as thou dost detain her in this forest.' 
 
 ' The sorcerer, enraged, felt about the cavern, 
 hoping to secure me : but 1 easily eluded his 
 search, and walked out into the forest ; where T 
 have supported myself till this time on the wild 
 fruits of the place, and have too frequently been 
 witness of the debaucheries and immorality of its 
 profane and wicked inhabitants.' 
 
 ' Beauteous Kaphira,' said the Sultan Adhim, ' I 
 pity your misfortunes, nor am I able at present to 
 relieve them; you, doubtless, have heard my un- 
 happy fate from Falri and his crew ; who, as Nadan 
 informed me, has ever been the friend of Lemack, 
 my deceitful vizier ? and if it suit you to rest under 
 this ancient palm, you shall be acquainted with 
 such particulars concerning Nourenhi, Mirglip, 
 and Phesoj Ecneps your honoured father, as will 
 doubtless be pleasing to one so nearly interested in 
 their fortunes-,'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 427 
 
 The Sultan Adhim then informed his beauteous 
 friend of Mirglip's fame, of Nourenhi s captivity, to 
 the fortunate issue of her love, and of his secret 
 expedition to the groves of the good Dervise ; and 
 having finished his relation, and asked the fair 
 Kaphlra's permission to love her with undissembled 
 affection, he set forward to the ciry of RaglaV and 
 the towers of Orez. But, the night advancing, he 
 was obliged to rest again in the forest ; which gave 
 him an opportunity of recollecting that his ring 
 might possibly be of no farther service to protect 
 him, when he was past the confines of the forest of 
 Falri. 
 
 This reflection made him resolve to stain his face 
 with some berries, to cut his beard like a Calendar, 
 and to procure, in the suburbs of the city, a gar- 
 ment suitable to the profession v/hich he had as- 
 sumed. 
 
 As the disguised Sultan entered the city, he per- 
 ceived a crowd, and, mixing with the multitude, he 
 saw at a distance the public crier. 
 
 * Friend,' said he to a bystander, '' what doth this 
 crier offer to the public V 
 
 'Ten thousand sequins,' answered the man, 'to 
 him who will bring the head of the traitor Adhim 
 to our lord the Sultan Lemack.' 
 
 ' Alas !' answered the Sultan, ' when I last visited 
 your city, Adhim was Sultan J how then is he be- 
 come a traitor V 
 
 ' It is well,' replied the man, • that a friend of 
 Adhim hears you talk thus : half what you have 
 s lid, would have cost you your life, had any of the 
 emissaries of Lemack heard you.' 
 
 ' How then dare you confess,' answered the Sul- 
 tan, ' that you are the friend of Adhim.' 
 
 'I dare not,' answered the man, 'hold farther 
 conversation with you here : but if you will follow
 
 428 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 nie, and submit to the terms which I shall require, 
 you shall hear more thau you imagine.' 
 
 The disguised Sultan rejoiced at the fortunate 
 event, which brought him acquainted with one who 
 seemed so ready to serve him, though unknown, and 
 hasted after theslranger through several streets and 
 lanes. At length the stranger stopped at a baker's 
 shop. 
 
 ' Here,' whispered he, 'friend of Adhim, thou 
 shalt have security and ease. Enter fearless, and 
 partake of such poor entertainment as I have ; 
 while I unravel to you some mysteries, w^hich will 
 surprise and rejoice you.' 
 
 The Sultan entered with pleasure the house of 
 the baker, who set before him some cakes and sher- 
 bet, and begged of him to eat freely ; for his com- 
 pajiy was a sufficient recompense for what he should 
 consume. 
 
 Adhim, supposing he should shortly be able to 
 r ward the baker very amply for his services, ate 
 heartily of what was set before him. 
 
 ' Our good old Sultan Adhim,' said the baker, 
 as they sat together, * had won the hearts of all his 
 subjects ; and the whole city laments the tyrannies 
 of Lcmack.' 
 
 ' Was Adhim, then,' answered the disguised Sul- 
 tan, ' so much ijeloved?' 
 
 ' You know but little of Adhim the Magnificent,' 
 answered the other, 'to ask such a question.' 
 
 ' Yes,' replied the Sultan, ' I think I know him 
 now ; though I confess I knew him but lately.' 
 
 ' And where then,' replied the baker, elated, 
 ♦ where is our beloved Sultan concealed? 
 
 ' 1 perceive,' continued he, ' 1 am deceived in 
 you, sir ; I thought to have communicated some- 
 what to you, but you are better able to inform me. 
 iV'ow, by my i'aith, sir, you must bring me to our
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 4-29 
 
 royal master, that I may honour him as I ought ; 
 and, doubtless, many will be found in the city, who 
 will be happy to fall prostrate before him/ 
 
 * Perhaps,' said the disguised Sultan, ' ere loner 
 w'e may be able to show hirn to his injured subjects : 
 but, at present, I do long to know what numbers 
 espouse his cause, and wish him again on the Per- 
 sian throne.' 
 
 ' It is enough,' replied the baker ; ' I will go and 
 bring several with me, who are as much the friends 
 of Adhim as myself. In the mean time, kind stran- 
 ger, solace yourself here in my house; and, believe 
 me, I am truly happy in meeting with one of your 
 way of thinking.' 
 
 The baker then hasted out of his house, and left 
 the Sultan, surprised at his free and voluntary offer 
 to support the cause of a prince whom, perhaps, he 
 had never seen. 
 I ' 1 was wrong,' said the Sultan to himself, ' that 
 I I did notat once discover myself to this baker ; lie 
 frankly and openly assured me he was my friend ; 
 why then is the spirited Adhim more close and mean 
 than an illiterafe and narrow-bred peasant! But I 
 will, however, let the good man enjoy the first dis- 
 covery ; I will take him apart from the friends le 
 shall bring with him ; he shall have the honour 
 of introducing his sovereign to his faithful subjects ; 
 and if ever I again ascend the Persian throne, not 
 Mirglip norPhes(j Ecneps shall enjoy a seat above 
 this honest baker.' 
 
 It was almost night before the baker returned to 
 his shop : the Sultan saw him coming with a crowd 
 at his heels; and he blamed him in his heart, that 
 lie had thus imprudently subjected his friends to 
 the suspicious eyes of the vassals of Lemack. 
 
 The baker entering his house, inquired for bis 
 friend, the stranger whom he had brought with
 
 430 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN, 
 
 him in the niorninp: : and Adhim hasted to meet 
 him at the threshold. 
 
 * There, my friends,' said the baker, * this is the 
 man who was born to make a holiday at Raglai; 
 seize him,' contii'ucd he, ' ye guards of Lemack, 
 and carry hi\n before our Sultan, as one who dares 
 prefer the slothful Adhim to Lemack the lord of 
 Persia.' 
 
 Adhim was thunderstruck at the perfidy of the 
 baker ; and the guards instantly seized on him, 
 and, havini;- fettered him with heavy irons, dragged 
 him toward the towers of Orez. 
 
 The crowd gathered as he passed along.— ' Whom 
 have we here ?' said they.—' A friend,' answered 
 the guards, ' of rebels and traitors, whom to-mor- 
 row's sun will, at its first appearance, behold on 
 the public scaffold of execution.' 
 
 The guards, having conducted Adhim to the pa- 
 lace, inquired for their Sultan : but Lemack, who 
 was solacing himself in the seraglio, ordered the 
 prisoner to be cast that night into the dungeon at 
 the foot of the rock, and the next morning to be 
 brought before him. 
 
 The captive Sultan entered the gloomy dungeon 
 with firmness and intrepidity ; and the guards, 
 having chained him to the wall, barred up the 
 prison-doors, aiid departed. 
 
 But ere the moon, which glimmered through the 
 bars on the damp walls of the mould- fretted dun- 
 geon, was fallen from its midnight watch, the Sul- 
 tan heard the doors of the dungeon grate, and pre- 
 sently he beheld the reflection of a light on the 
 winding passage, and could distinguish the sound 
 of feet treading sofily on the pavement. Fear for a 
 moment possessed his breast, as he expected death 
 was hasting to him before its appointed time ; and 
 Lis firm mind was scarcely recovered from the
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 431 
 
 boding shock, when he saw a female enter the place 
 where he lay, with a lamp burning in her hand. 
 
 The gloomy cavern, and the cold midnight air, 
 had chilled the blood and terrified the mind of the 
 affrighted damsel, and she stood shivering before 
 the Sultan, unable to utter the motives of her visit. 
 The Sultan, not less alarmed, though less fearful 
 than before, asked her on what errand she came 
 through the horrors of the night 1 
 
 ' First,' said the damsel, kneeling, ' let me, O 
 stranger, loose you from these iffnominious chains.' 
 
 Upon which she took from her bosom the keys 
 which unlocked the fetters, and released the Sultan 
 from his confinement. 
 
 * Gentle damsel,' sold Adhim, ' what means this 
 unexpected kindness ?' 
 
 ' T am,' answered she, ' the only daughter of 
 Colac, the keeper of these dungeons, and am called 
 Kufan, because of the blackness of my eyes: but 
 were my eyes like jet, and more brilliant than the 
 diamond, yet never can they be fixed on a more 
 lovely object, than on him who now stands before 
 me.' 
 
 As Kufan uttered these words, the arched passages 
 of the dungeon echoed with an uncommon noise. 
 
 The Sultan Adhim, conscious of his situation, 
 was vexed in his heart that he had suffered Kufan 
 to unlock his fetters ; and he doubted not but those 
 who were entering would suppose that he had 
 consented to the damsel, who was thus manifestly 
 aiding his escape. 
 
 In the midst of his anxiety and discontent, the 
 vile Lemack entered the dungeon, supported by 
 Colac the keeper, holding a bloody scimitar in his 
 hand 
 
 ' Slave,' said lie to Colac, ' where is this rebel, 
 whom justice wakes to punish at this silent hour of
 
 432 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 night ? Other Sultans leave the execution of their 
 orders to the meanest of mankind; but they who 
 hope to have them well performed, should act the 
 executioner themselves.— Yet, ah !' continued Le- 
 mack, starting-, ' whom have we here ? Damned 
 Colac, dost thou solace thus thy prison-guests, and 
 make a seraglio of my dungeon V 
 
 Colac, no less surprised at seeing his daughter 
 with his prisoner, than Lemack, was about to an- 
 swer him, when the tyrant struck his scimitar into 
 his heart, and fell with the murdered Colac on the 
 ground. 
 
 Kufan screamed at the sight; for Kufan loved 
 her dear parent with a noble fondness ; and, though 
 vicious in her mind, was yet tender and grateful to 
 the father of her life. 
 
 Lemack struggled on the pavement to recover 
 his feet ; but the fumes of wine overpowered him, 
 and in broken accents he stammered forth execra- 
 tions on the author of his misfortune. 
 
 Adhim, perceiving no one came to the assistance 
 of Lemack, seized the scimitar which the tyrant had 
 plunged into the breathless body of Colac, and was 
 about to strike it into the heart of Lemack ; but, 
 seeing him breathless and extended, the Sultan for- 
 bore : — ' No,' said he, ' thou art not fit to die ; 
 nor would it well become a noble spirit to finish 
 that little of thee wlsich vice hath spared.' — Tlien, 
 seizing on Kufan, as she knelt before her expiring 
 parent : — 
 
 * Damsel,' said he, ' I admire your filial piety 
 and tenderness ; but the time is big with stvaTige 
 events, and will not yield her precedence even to 
 nature ; wherefore rise, and help me to drag this 
 unwieldy corpse to yonder chains : and hear me, 
 d<;msel ! be obedient, and 1 will pardon and reward 
 thee : for know, Kufan, it is Adhim that directs 
 thv arm.'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 433 
 
 Kufan, astonished at the words of Adhim.fell at 
 his feet, and was about to reply ; but he obliged 
 her to rise, and by degrees they pulled along the 
 stupified body of Lemack, and secured him with 
 fetters and chains; then, taking off his royal vest- 
 ments, Adhim put them on himself, and com- 
 manding the virgin to continue in the dungeon, 
 without making any alarm, he passed through the 
 arched passages, locking and barring the doors, and 
 ascended into the court of the palace with the 
 bloody scimitar in his hand. 
 
 What Adhim expected, came to pass ; none dared 
 meet him, as they supposed it was the drunken, 
 blood-thirsty tyrant: and he arrived at the seraglio 
 unmolested, where he beheld several females wel- 
 tering in their blood. 
 
 These,' said he to himself, ' are the victims of 
 Lemack's rage : but I must yet dissemble.' 
 
 The Sultan then ascended the royal couch ; and, 
 having covered himself, he stamped on the ground^ 
 to call the eunuchs before him. 
 
 It was some time before any durst venture into 
 the chamber, such dread had they of Lemack's 
 drunken madness : but, after a time, supposing 
 him fallen asleep, the chief of the eunuchs entered 
 he chamber. 
 
 ^Abelidah,' said Adhim to him, counterfeiting 
 he voice of Lemack, ' call Holam, Pherizar, Hum- 
 ack, Eupordi, and Melan, before me.* 
 
 Abelidah, the chief of the eunuchs, \^as asto- 
 lished at the commands of the sham Lemack; 
 ispecially as three of those emirs whom he had 
 nentioned, had fled as soon as Lemack was pro- 
 laimed Sultan. However, the prudent eunuch 
 upposed remonstrances would be vain : wherefore 
 e sent for Pherizar and Eupordi, and acquainted 
 bem with the Sultan's order.
 
 434 SIIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 Pherizar and Eupordi were thunderstruck at the 
 command; and they doubted not but the prisoner 
 who wa3 betrayed by the baker had discovered 
 their secret attachment to their lawful prince. 
 Wherefore the good old emirs came trembling into 
 the chamber, and fell prostrate before the royal 
 couch. 
 
 * Abelidah,' said Adhim, still counterfeiting the 
 roice of Lemack, ' withdraw with thy fawning 
 mutes and eunuchs.' 
 
 Abelidah obeyed, and left Pherizar and Eupordi 
 alone with the Sultan. Adhim then rose from his 
 couch, and discovered to his wondering friends 
 their long-lost Sultan. 
 
 For some moments the emirs gazed in silent 
 transports, and knew not how to give credit to their 
 eyes ; but, recovering from their astonishment, they 
 did obeisance to their royal Sultan. 
 
 * Pherizar,' said the Sultan Adhim, 'it is not now 
 a time to unfold to you the miracle which brought 
 me here : we must be instant in seizing the captains 
 of the army, who first supported Lemack, and the 
 viziers of the court, who have basely deserted me, 
 to fawn upon a vile usurper. Give me then, faith- 
 ful emir, the names of these rebels, that we may,' 
 still counterfeiting Lemack, 'send for them into 
 the palace, and secure them with those chains they 
 meant to fix on us.' 
 
 Pherizar, in obedience to his Sultan, gave in a 
 list of the ringleaders of the rebellion ; and Abeli- 
 dah was called in, and sent to bring them singly 
 before the counterfeit Lemack. 
 
 The viziers and captains, each expecting some 
 farther preferment, obeyed with great alacrity the 
 royal summons; and as they entered, the emirs 
 seized on them, and led each of them through a 
 back way, into a separate jtlace uf security.
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 435 
 
 The first movers of the sedition being confined, 
 Adhim discovered himself to Abelidah and his eu- 
 nuchs, and commanded the trumpets to sound, and 
 the criers to go forth, and proclaim the arrival of 
 Adhim, the lawful Sultan of Persia. 
 
 This was done so suddenly, that the soldiers, who 
 had lost their captains, knew not which way to 
 move; but, throwing down their arms, many ran 
 out of the city, while others repaired, with great 
 submission, to the outer gates of the palace. Phe- 
 rizar and Eupordi went out to meet the penitents, 
 and, putting themselves at their head, they seized 
 on all the strong places of the city, and sent around 
 to the friends of Adhim, to repair under their 
 standards. 
 
 The citizens in general rejoiced at the happy ex- 
 change ; and those who were as wickedly inclined 
 as the tyrant Lemack, wore obliged to join the ge- 
 neral voice, and cry, ' Long live Adhim the Mag 
 nificent, our lawful Sultan !' 
 
 The imans, who had been driven out of their 
 mosques by the tyrannies of Lemack, entered them 
 again with joy, and gave praise to Alia for the re- 
 turn of their Sultan. 
 
 Pherizar was now sent to the good Dervise of 
 he groves, requesting his attendance, with the ex- 
 ellent Mirglip. 
 
 When the faithful emir reached the grove, he 
 bund the mild Phesoj Ecneps weak and infirm; and 
 vlth difficulty brought him forward in a palanquin 
 owards the towers of Orez : so that the emir feared 
 hey should not reach Raglai by the tenth day, 
 vhich was appointed for the trial of Lemack. 
 
 As soon as Pherizar was gone forth, couriers were 
 espatched also, with all haste, to the difierent pro- 
 inces, to order their respective governors to repair 
 u court, and men well affected to Adhim were sent 
 
 o
 
 436 MIRGLIP IHE PERSIAN. 
 
 in their stoad ; and this was done so quickly, that 
 the Sultan had placed proper men all round his em- 
 pire, before the news of his return was known. 
 
 These things being well executed, Adhim com- 
 mitted the kej^s of the dungeon to Eupordi, and 
 informed him of Lemack's situation, and the as- 
 sistance he liad received from Kufan ; commanding 
 hiu) to leave Lemack fettered, and bring Kufan be- 
 fore him. 
 
 The damsel, who had received no nourishment 
 during lier confinement, which lasted till the even- 
 ing of the daj' following her midnight adventure, 
 was weak and faint with hunger and terror; and 
 the presence of Eupordi added to her fright, so 
 that she fell motionless at his feet. 
 
 Enpordi, seeing Kufan fail, ordered his attendant 
 guards to raise and support her; then, going for- 
 ward towards the usurper Lemack, wliolay snoring 
 on the ground, he caused double chains to be 
 fastened on him. 
 
 Lemack awaked not till the chains were hung 
 around him; when, shaking his huge corpse, and 
 grrunting forth a groan, he essayed to rise, but 
 found himself pinioned to the earth. 
 
 * In what cursed region am I wandering ?' sai ' 
 he, rubbing his eyes ; ' and who are these im])s be 
 fore me, who seem to personate the spirits of th 
 damned ? Surely death is passed, and hell awake 
 
 * Blasphemous slave,' answered Eupordi, ' tho 
 art >et alive, if that be called life which thou pos 
 sossest ; which is indeed but life's slavery, a fearful 
 vassalage to disordered appetite, and caving pas- 
 sions : to live like thee, the drudge of luxury, were 
 a curse, and not a blessing; a grievous burthen,. , 
 and no gift to be desired : but haply life with thee I 
 is short, for now our royal master reigns again, and ! 
 thou art Adhim's prisoner.' jj
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 43? 
 
 * Prisoner !' said Lemack confounded, his coun- 
 tenance falling, and his limbs convulsed with fear; 
 ' righteous Eupordi ! is then my royal master living, 
 and returned to his long-expecting subjects? O ! let 
 rae haste to kiss that garment which enrobes him, 
 and to lick the dust which bears the pride of Persia 
 on its surface : happy for me, my lord again vouch- 
 safes to rule his wide domain. Poor weak old man ! 
 the cares of state depressed my unpenetrating 
 mind ; and every day convinced me, none but our 
 royal master could sway with just impartial balance 
 the royal sceptre of the Persian throne.' 
 
 ' I now retort that canting phrase thou gavest 
 me,' said Eupordi, ' and, from thy example, judge 
 the vicious tyrant, when deposed, becomes a slave 
 most abject.' 
 
 * Good Eupordi,' replied Lemack in tears, ' hast 
 Thou no compassion on a fallen brother? Did I 
 then suffer thee to live for this ? O ! fly, kind 
 emir, and at Adhim's feet beg mercy for thy friend I' 
 
 Whatever our royal master shall command, Eu- 
 pordi must obey,' said the emir : ' but tiiink not 
 that he means in secret silence to deprive thee of 
 thy life ; no, Lemack; just and noble in his soul, 
 he has called the solemn divan, and means to judge 
 thee for thy crimes. Ten days are yet ai)pointed 
 to assemble the viziers and emirs to the divan.' 
 
 Then I am lost indeed, poor wretched man !' 
 aid Lemack, ' to meet the frowns of our offended 
 obles, who will rejoice to spurn the man they saw 
 mpivith envy the favourite of our Sultan.' 
 
 'Speak not thus hastily, Lemack,' said the emir, 
 of our Persian nobles ; above the low conceits of 
 nivy or of malice, they will judge thee as their 
 )rotlier; and where doubt hesitates, there mercy 
 hall prevail.' 
 Thus said Eupordi, and retired; commanding
 
 438 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 the guards, who had in vain endeavoured to re- 
 cover Kufan, to lay her body beside her father 
 Colac. 
 
 Adhim, having heard the dismal tale of Kufan, 
 ordered all funeral honours to be paid her and 
 Colac, and continued to their family the post which 
 the father had enjoyed ; commanding his treasurer, 
 moreover, to pay the widow a thousand sequins. 
 
 In the mean time Fair), surrounded by sorceries, 
 had rendered the forest of Goruou impervious to 
 the troops of Adhim ; who, in the midst of his 
 cares, had not forgotten the beauteous Kaphira ; 
 baffled by his enchantments, the monarch wished 
 himself to seek her in the forest ; but he consi- 
 dered that his life was his people's, and that public 
 utility must be preferred to private happiness. 
 
 Falri, knowing by his art the overthrow of Le- 
 mack, cursed the foolish drunkard in his mind ; 
 and he had left him to himself, to perish by the 
 hand of Adhim, liad not the success of the Sultan 
 been a canker to his own breast. Wherefore he 
 resolved, by some secret contrivance, to ruin the 
 happiness of Adhim : and as Xadan protected the 
 Sultan from enchantment, Falri hoped to make his 
 new-fangled virtues, as he called them, the sources 
 of his misery. 
 
 The following night, he stood before Lemack in 
 the dungeon ; but the dispirited wretch could 
 scarcely speak to his adviser Falri ; and when he 
 found the enchanter was not able to release him, 
 he wept like an infant. 
 
 ' Wretched Lemack,' said Falri, 'craft shall pre- 
 vail where force may not ; did I not sacrifice Mir- 
 glip tocalumny ? then fear not but Adhim shall be 
 snared by the deceits of Falri.' 
 
 Thus said the sorcerer, and disclosed to Lemack 
 the foul purposes of his heart : but Lemack, to
 
 MIROLTP THE PERSIAN'. 439 
 
 whom revenge was of little value, when his life 
 was forfeited, answered only with his groans. 
 
 On the tenth day arrived the faithful emir Pheri- 
 zar, with Phesoj Ecneps, the Dervise of the groves, 
 and the temperate Mirglip : but the good Dervise, 
 fatigued with his journey, was unable to attend 
 his royal master : and when Mirglip came into the 
 presence of Adhim, the Sultan, having welcomed 
 him to Orez, ordered him to watch over his fa- 
 ther's health, and excused every kind of attend- 
 ance on himself. 
 
 The Sultan then entered the divan, and, being 
 seated on his throne, with his surrounding viziers 
 and emirs, he commanded the rebel Lemack to be 
 led forth from the dungeon. 
 
 The unwieldy Lemack moved slowly through the 
 ranks of guards, who were placed on each side to 
 secure him. 
 
 As he came into the presence of Adhim, he fell 
 at the foot of the throne, and groaned for mercy ; 
 vowing everlasting fidelity to his lord, and peni- 
 tence for the crimes he had committed against 
 Adhim anrl his subjects. 
 
 The royal Adhim, though enraged at his hypo- 
 crisies, was nevertheless moved at his abject vizier ; 
 and, in the nobleness of his heart, he would have 
 forgiven his crimes, had he not called the solemn 
 divan to judgment. 
 
 The rebellion of Lemack was too glaring to admit 
 of any palliation ; and Adhim found that none of 
 the viziers chose to speak in his behalf. 
 
 * My subjects and my safeguard,' said the royal 
 Adhim, ' fear nut to speak in behalf of this poor 
 prisoner, for I swear on my sceptre, the man who 
 pleads best for Lemack shall have thanks from 
 me.' The divan still continued silent. 
 
 'Then/ said Adhim, * I will speak, and ask ye,
 
 440 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 
 
 nobles, whether this Lemack be v/orthy of death, 
 who usurped not our authority, since it was dele- 
 gated to him? and, if he abused it, mine was the 
 fault, not his.' 
 
 ' Just and generous sovereign,' answered Pheri- 
 zar, ' more lovely to the guilty than to those who 
 have never offended ; you have called me here to 
 ppeak the just sentiments of my heart, and there- 
 fore, I conceive Lemack had been acquitted by 
 your voice, had he not publicly offered a reward 
 for the life of his prince.' 
 
 The divan rang with applause at the words of 
 Pherizar ; for Lemack was so abhoned by the 
 people, who knew more of his wickedness than 
 the generous Adhim, that the mildest of them 
 thought his death was absolutely necessary to the 
 general peace. 
 
 Adhim, overcome by the reasonings of his coun- 
 sellors, yielded up Lemack to their will; and the 
 wretched vizier sunk to the ground, while he heard 
 on every sidethe sentence of his death pronounced. 
 
 The royal Adhim, having determined the fate of 
 Lemack, commanded him to be detained in the 
 divan, during the trial of several innocent person^, 
 who, in the usurpation of the vizier, had met with 
 no redress. 
 
 The nobles in the divan were amazed to see with 
 what candour and perspicuity the Sultan decided ; 
 divesting himself of every prejudice, and not per- 
 mitting royalty on the one hand, nor popularity on 
 the other, to bias his judgment or influence his de- 
 crees. Lemack beheld these transactions with a 
 different eye: the justice of Adhim struck the 
 sharpest stings in his conscience : he saw with con- 
 tempt, virtue triumph, and vice abased ; he saw 
 private advantage yielding to public justice, and 
 the law triumphant over partiality and affection.
 
 MIRGLTP THE PERSIAN. 441 
 
 And now the different parties were retreatiriix, 
 every one satisfied with the equity of their Sultau; 
 and the public crier gave notice, that the causes 
 were all determined ; when a young man, from the 
 extremity of the divan, called out and desired to be 
 heard. 
 
 The assembly were so much charmed with the 
 address of their Sultan, who seldom before had at- 
 tended the divan, but left the management of jus- 
 tice to Lemack (except where humour or caprice 
 led him to be particular), that they were pleased, 
 to find there was yet another cause to be tried : 
 wherefore, making room for the young man, they 
 let him pass toward the foot of the throne. 
 
 The young man led in his hand a veiled virgin, 
 and, falling prostrate at the footstool of Adhim, — 
 ' Pattern ofevery human excellence, just lawgiver 
 of Persia,' said the young man, ' I beseech thy pa- 
 tience to hear me a few words. T am, O Sultan, of 
 Persia, the son of a noble emir of thy court, and, 
 being smitten with the beauties of this fair damsel, 
 1 asked her consent to marry me, provided I could 
 prevail with her father to receive me for a son-in- 
 law. The damsel consented to the terms I pro- 
 posed, and I went in search of her father, who 
 yielded to my entreaties : and now, O Saltan, that 
 I have done all that was required of me, the dam- 
 sel refuses to go before the cadi, and take me f.r 
 her husband.' 
 
 ' Damsel,' said the Sultan to the virgin, who 
 stood veiled before him, ' has this young man 
 spoken the truth, or has he deceived thee into a 
 promise ?' 
 
 The damsel held down her head, her hands fixed 
 on each other, and answered nothing. 
 
 ' If,' continued the Sultan, ' you make no an- 
 swer, virgin, I must conceive you guilty, and en-
 
 442 MIRGLIP THE PEKSIAX. 
 
 force the promise which you seem now so unwilling 
 to fulfil.' 
 
 The damsel still continued silent; yet her breast 
 heaved with sighs, and her knees shook with fear. 
 
 ' The modest distress of the virgin,' said Adhim, 
 ' will not suffer her to speak, and her fear arises 
 from female delicacy. — Lead her forth, young 
 man,' continued the Sultan, ' and let the cadi 
 ratify your vows.' 
 
 As the Sultan spake these words, the beauteous 
 virgin fainted in the arms of the young man ; and 
 the attendants of Adhim hastening to unveil her, 
 and give her air, discovered to the astonished Sul- 
 tan the features of the long-lost Kaphira. Adhim 
 hasted from the throne, and was about to assist in 
 recovering her, when, checking himself, and stop- 
 ping, — ' Hold,' said he aloud to himself, ' Sultan 
 of Persia, forbear : for by Phesoj Ecneps' consent, 
 by Kaphira's silence, and by thy own decree, she 
 is the wife of another.' 
 
 The SuUau Adhim spake this with a firmness 
 and resolution which astonished every hearer, 
 though they were ignorant of the cause : and as 
 lie left off speaking, he ascended the throne, com- 
 manding the eunuchs to spare no pains in suc- 
 couring the beauteous Kaphira. In the mean time 
 he despatched Abelidah, the chief of the eunuchs, 
 to request the presence of Mirglip in the divan : 
 and as the good young man entered, — * Mirglip, 
 said he, ' behold thy sister Kaphira.' 
 
 Mirglip, elated at the words of the Sultan, ran 
 towards his sister, who was then reviving from her 
 faintness ; and, taking her from the arms of the 
 young man, he embraced his sister Kaphira.' 
 
 The fair Kaphira looked in amaze on Mirglip as 
 he spoke, and clasping her hands, and lii'tingthem 
 to heaven, — ' Alia,' said she, ' defend me !'
 
 MIRGLIP THE PERSIAN. 443 
 
 The Sultan, who would not trust his eyes toward 
 her, fearing their well-known influence, was, how- 
 ever, somewhat confounded at the preference which 
 Kaphira had paid to Bereddan, after the sweet 
 converse he had enjoyed with her in the forest : 
 but he concluded that gratitude, and her father's 
 promise had bound her to Bereddan, and he re- 
 solved to sustain the mighty shock with firmness 
 and intrepidity. But his resolutions were vain ; 
 love, mighty love, possessed his frame ; and, though 
 his mind resolved to suffer, yet his body sunk a 
 prey to his contending passion.^. 
 
 The emirs, seeing their Sultan fall, crowded 
 eagerly to assist him ; and Kaphira shrieked aloud 
 at his fate, and, had Bereddan suffered her, she 
 would have ran the first to support her lord. 
 
 By degrees the Sultan recovered, and, turning 
 toward Bereddan, — ' Cruel emir,' sairl he,' forbear; 
 far hence lead thy rich prize : — and thou, O Pro- 
 phet, teach me to forget myself and her !' 
 
 The sorcerer Falri, who had personated Bered- 
 dan, to deceive the good Dervise, and destroy the 
 ppace of Adhim, exulted in his success, and led 
 away the unwilling fair one through the divan, 
 blessing Adhim aloud for his disinterested justice. 
 
 ' Seize on the sham Bereddan instantly,' cried 
 Lemack. 
 
 His words were needless, for the crowd in the 
 divau seized him the moment he began to speak. 
 
 The sorcerer Falri, perceiving that his false 
 friend Lemack was about to betray him, began to 
 mutter his enchantments: but he found a superior 
 power withheld him. 
 
 Instantly the (Jenius Nadan appeared in the 
 divan, and turning to Adhim, — ' Prince, said he, 
 fear not ; for. Lemack having given up Falri, his 
 sorceries v/ill no longer protect him.'
 
 444 MIRGLIP THE PEllSlAN. 
 
 ' Speak, then, O Lemack,' said the Sultan to 
 him, ' and discover to thy prince, by what artifice 
 has Falri prevailed on the beauteous Kaphira to 
 listen to him.' 
 
 ' First,' answered Lemack, ' like thyself, arrayed 
 with Adhim's visage and form, he prevailed on her 
 to vield herself to him, and brougrht her in disguise 
 beyond the power of Nadan. Then, personating 
 Bereddan, he went to Phesoj Ecnops' happy groves, 
 and, with a well-told tale, allured the unsuspecting 
 Dervise to promise him his daughter.' 
 
 The Sultan then ordered his guards to release 
 Lemack ; and heTeft the divan, knowing not where 
 to turn, or hide his head from the just fury of the 
 multitudfe, who followed at his heels with hisses 
 and imprecations. Falri was also driven from the 
 kingdom. 
 
 'And now,' said the Genius Nadan, leading 
 Kaphira toward Adhim, ' receive, O prince, the 
 just reward of all thy toils, and haste to bless the 
 lingering sight of the good Dervise with his 
 daughter; and remember, that every joy you feel 
 with fair Kaphira, was honest Mirglip's gift.' 
 
 ' Bounteous Nadan,' said the sage Iracagem, who 
 rose as the Genius finished his tale, ' we are in- 
 debted to thee for much instruction, wdio hast 
 blended the doctrines of temperance with the 
 exercise of justice ; and taught our listening pupils 
 the love of virtuous friendship, and the sweet re- 
 wards which rise from generous and from noble 
 actions. Nor have we more to teach, nor they 
 more to hear.' 
 
 THE END. 
 
 G. NORMAN, Piil.NTliK MAIDEN LANE, COVtNT (JAR^'l^N.
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
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