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Zeyn placed his hand in that of the trembling girl, and pronounced the vow of eternal affection. As the words past his lips, he recollected the warning spirit. The blood fled from his cheeks, as he cast a look of fearful inquiry round him; and oh! from what an oppressive weight did his heart feel relieved, when his eye encountered not the chilling glance of that dreaded enemy.

rise.

It was midnight when Zeyn sought the sea-shore, in order that he might furnish the table on his wedding-day more plenteously than usual. He steered towards the rocks, threw out his nets, and having fastened his little bark to the shrubs which were rooted at its base, he, for the first time, ventured to ascend the precipice, on which he had formerly endured all the agonies of dying, and determined to wait for sunHe was weary with rowing, and entering a narrow clift of the rock, laid himself down, and was soon buried in slumber. But he had not long enjoyed this repose, when he was roused by the sound of voices; they ascended from a cave under the place where he was resting. He listened, and heard the whole details of a plot formed against the Sultan of the Carnatic. He collected from their discourse, that they were persons of considerable consequence in the court. Every one complained of the sovereign's severity, of his exaltation of men of low birth to

the

bigotted Sultan, it would place a youthful, wise, and generous-minded prince on the throne. Occasionally, the conference was interrupted by a soft complaining voice, which appeared rather to moderate than incite the resentment of the rest, till at length it even seemed to be changed into the tone of supplication; but it was impossible for Zeyn at such a distance to collect its import.

The conference was ended; the plan arranged, and its execution confirmed by solemn oaths, The beams of the rising sun now glittered upon the ocean's bosom, and Zeyn heard the confederates preparing to depart. With caution he advanced his head beyond the precipice, and saw them issue forth and hasten to their horses, which slaves held for them at some distance. He counted fourteen; they gave the spur to their coursers, and soon disappeared from his sight.

Zeyn now quitted the rock, and soon discovered the entrance to the cave. He remained for some time meditating on the important discovery which he had just made. He had heard the Sultan described as a man who distributed justice with the strictest impartiality; who was not known to be the slave of any particular weakness himself; and who never suffered crimes to pass unpunished. He therefore thought it absolutely necessary, that this dangerous conspiracy should be revealed without delay: yet, besides, he was now nothing better than a poor fisherman, and how could he expect to gain an audience of the Sultan? The very request must needs excite suspicion; and if the slightest hint of his business once reached the conspirators, how easy would it be for such powerful persons to prevent his story from ever coming to the Sultan's knowledge, either by despatching him privately, or burying him in some secret prison till their plan should be

first offices of the state, and of the ill treatment of his deserving son. According to their account this young prince was compelled by his father's avarice and jealousy to submit to the most degrading humiliations; and it seemed to be the universal opinion that nothing could release him from this captivity except the deposition of the man who treated him so little like a father. Every one endeavoured to excuse his treason under colour of justice, and numerous arguments were advanced to prove that it would be one Such were the reflections whose of the most noble actions ever accom- thread was broken by a noise but too plished; since, instead of the weak and | well known to him! It was the garment

effected?

of his persecutor, which streamed in the wind with a rushing murmur. In the same instant the Spirit of the Frozen Ocean stood before him, and the sun, which pierced through a chasm of the rock, threw its beams upon that countenance, so cold, so serious, so awfully lovely. A groan of despair burst from the bosom of the wretched man, who felt that he was again the persecuted Amorassan.

"Amorassan," said the Spirit, " when last I parted from you I thought that we parted to meet no more: but the sea was not suffered to conceal you, and I am still your slave. Yet tremble not at my presence! That last page, which I was not permitted to read in the Book of Destiny, and which contains the sum of your future fortunes, at this moment is unfolded; but your own heart must be your sole guide on this occasion, and I am not permitted to warn you or foretell the consequences of that act, which now agitates your uncertain thoughts. Happy is it for you, that I am not permitted. Look down, Amorassan a seal-ring lies at your feet, and that seal-ring will confirm the truth of your discovery. Guard well that ring, and now act according to your free will, aided by no better counsellor than unbiassed human judgment. Fortune again proffers her sceptre to your hand; and it now depends upon himself alone to decide whether Amorassan will resume all that he has lost, his wealth, his power, his greatness. Farewell! Probably for ever. I came to you without joy, and I leave you without sorrow."-She said, and disappeared.

Amorassan carefully secured the ring and unconsciously directed his steps towards the Sultan's residence; and while traversing the road he heard a herald proclaiming that the prince had lost his seal-ring at the chace; and that whoever could find it, and restore it to its royal owner, should be rewarded with two hundred drachmas and a robe of honour."

The herald proceeded to describe the signet; Amorassan felt a shivering seize his limbs, when he recognized the ring, which, at that moment, was enveloped in his girdle. Before he was yet well recovered from the alarm of this discovery, he was roused by a sudden tumult in the market-place, and on inquiring the cause, was informed, that the Sultan and his son were passing through it in their way to the principal mosque.

Thither also hastened Amorassan, He forced his way through the crowd with an impetuosity which bore down every obstacle, and soon found himself within the consecrated walls.

The Sultan was a man still in the prime of life, majestic in his deportment, but whose serious look was prevented from wearing any appearance of severity, by the benevolence of his countenance. The prince was at no great distance from his father; he was a lovely youth; yet the brilliance of his personal beauty was considerably obscured by a certain pensive gloom, for which Amorassan knew but too well how to account. His eyes were still fixed upon the prince's face with insatiable curiosity, when he heard a voice from the pulpit pronounce aloud "Ye true believers know that the chief Iman has a dead person in his house, and is forbidden by the law from haranguing you this day. Let him, therefore, who feels the inspiration of Allah, assume his place, and may the prophet shed his spirit upon the speaker's lips." Instantly a ray of light penetrated the mind of Amorassan. He eagerly ascended the pulpit, and announced in a prophetic tone the existence of a most dangerous conspiracy, and called upon the people in energetic language to unite in defence of so excellent a sovereign. His discourse excited universal astonishment. The people concluded that he must needs be some unfortunate person whom religious enthusiasm had deprived of his senses. But the wiser Sultan saw thar his warnings were founded on more substantial grounds than he judged it prudent to explain to the multitude. Accordingly he was immediately summoned to the palace by royal command.

He related to the Sultan his adventure on the rock. The monarch doubted the existence of so atrocious a plot, and warned him not to trifle in a matter of such dangerous importance: yet even granting his story to be true, how could the culprits be recognized? The fisherman had not heard a single name; and he had listened at too great a distance to allow the possibility of his discovering them by the sound of their voices. "Mighty Lord!" said Amorassan, "thus much I know that the fourteen conspirators are all members of the supreme divan. Let a herald immediately call your own counsel together, announcing that you require their assistance in consequence of the discovery of a most dangerous and treasonable plot. My oration must already have given them alarm, and this mention of a conspiracy will confirm their fears : on my life the culprits will not dare to shew themselves in your divan."

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" I like your counsel well," answered the Sultan, " the divan shall be summoned instantly."-" Yet one word," observed Amorassan; your enemies are equally the enemies of your son; perhaps are even more so. Then before the certain existence of this plot is announced, let your guards instantly hasten to the prince, and prevent all possibility of his falling into danger by escorting

him to the divan."

"So be it!" replied the Sultan. The divan was summoned, and thirteen of the principal members of it failed to make their appearance. And it appeared, that some hours before, they had quitted the metropolis with every mark of terror and consternation. On leaving the divan, the Sultan summoned Zeyn to his presence.

"Your veracity is confirmed," said the monarch; "yet my preservation is still incomplete. But thirteen of my

nobles failed to appear in the divan; and while the fourteenth (who perhaps is the most dangerous among them the all) remains undiscovered, what perils have I not to expect from his secret machinations?"

"Sultan," replied Amorassan, "that fourteenth is well known to me. Look on this well known ring; it belongs to the chief of the conspiracy."

"All powerful Allah!" exclaimed the Sultan, and the colour forsook his cheeks; "My son! My only son !""Alas! It is but too true," replied Amorassan, " I feel in my own heart how deep is the wound I have just inflicted upon thine."-" And why did you not reveal his guilt immediately," said the Sultan." Because either as a sovereign you must have resigned your sole offspring to the scaffold, or by pardoning him as a father, have shown your people a partial monarch in their ruler, and an unnatural son in his destined successor. I therefore put myself in your place; I felt for you as a father should feel. It now rests with yourself to act towards the prince as a parent, or as judge. His evil counsellors are removed; their places filled by honest men will prevent the recurrence of this danger; your son is still respectable in the eyes of your people; you only are conscious of his offence, and, might I advise, he should remain for ever ignorant, that it is known even to you. How would he dare again to meet the eyes of the father, whom he had so much injured."-" In this, as in all else,” said the Sultan, " you have acted with true prudence-you have saved my life, but that is little; you have saved my son's, and that benefit is inestimable. And yet can it be possible? What? The son whom I have ever loved so dearly can he-what cause-what motive."" Pardon me, while I explain even that," interrupted Amorassan, " you have loved him as your son and as your heir; but your manner of loving him has been adopted according to your own affections and views, not according to his. You for got that he is young. You censured his failings with severity; perhaps with more than you would have censured any feelings except his: your anxiety to accustom him to economy, induced you to limit him even in his unavoidable expenses, and it is easy for parsimony to degenerate into avarice. It was by placing these features of your character painted in exaggerated colours before your son's eyes, that he was induced to favour this conspiracy. I speak not this at random: I repeat but the discourse of the conspirators themselves, while conversing in the secret cavern. But though his reason was deluded, they could not corrupt his heart. I heard the mournful sound of his voice, which never rose above the accent of complaint; he spoke to soften, not to exasperate; Sultan act by him with prudence, and your son's heart will still be yours."-" Your words have been like daggers," said the agitated monarch, "but I thank you for them, since I feel their truth. But you, whose eye can pierce so deeply, what is your name and your condition ?"-" I am a humble fisherman," replied Amorassan ; "what I was ask not; I desire no other reward."-" Be it so," said the Sultan, " let us forget what you were ; let us only speak of what you shall be. I need a man like you; my son, as you know but too well, needs such a man still more than myself. Remain at my court; the place of Vizir, wealth, honour, and the fairest virgin of my harem."-" The daughter of my benefactor," answered Amorassan, " is already my betrothed; and the hut which I inhabit, is much too small for the habitation of a virgin of your harem. I am a fisherman now, I will remain so."-" Yet let me do something towards your comfort. The reward promised to the restorer of this ring, is at least your legal due."" Then give it quickly and let me away," hastily replied the fisherman. "And should I need your counsels, how shall I find

you?" asked the Sultan. My name is Zeyn; I dwell on the sea-shore with my adopted father, Alcouz the palsied fisherman."-"Zeyn, from this moment too am I your father. And will then my son leave me without making one request?"-" No! I will make one. Be gentle to the deluded youth, your son."-" Generous Zeyn! I swear it! On my death-bed only will I give him this ring, and tell him how and where I found it! It shall be handed down in my family as an heir loom, and every possessor of the throne shall bear it on his finger. But mark me, Zeyn; unrewarded you must not leave me, not for your own sake, but for mine. The city talks of nothing but your services-the tale will spread from town to town, from village to village • The poor fisherman saved the Sultan's life, and the avaricious Sultan suffered the fisherman to remain as poor as ever.' Accept, therefore, enough to maintain your family in ease and comfort, and save me from the charge of ingratitude."-" Your reasons are just, and I obey. I accept your proffered bounty; I bless you and depart."

Amorassan hastened back to the hut, embraced Alcouz and his bride, and forgot that he had ever been any other than Zeyn the fisherman.

The next morning was to make Leilah his wife. Buried in thought, he stood alone at his chamber-window, when suddenly the form of the warning Spirit showed itself in the cold bright flood of moon-shine. Amorassan started.

"We meet for the last time," said the Spirit; " your heart has decided your future fate; by the command of my omnipotent Master I now separate myself from you for ever, and return to the Frozen Ocean and my native islands of chillness and gloom. Whether you have learned any thing during our intercourse, I neither know nor care. Truth was shown you; you could not support the sight, and sighed more ness and hunger, and requested hospitality for a night. It was granted; but in the morning the stranger was too ill to proceed. He remained for many weeks at the cottage, and received the attentions due to a brother. Their care at length conquered the obstinacy of his complaint.

anxiously for illusion, than you had | in mean apparel complained of weariever sighed for truth. You have rejected the Sultan's favour; you have resolved to remain an unknown fisherman: perhaps you have judged wisely, perhaps not; I know not! but this at least I know; in order to make yourself what you are now, there was no need of calling me from the Frozen Ocean. With this truth I dissolve our union; farewell, and for ever."

She placed her hand on his forehead; her touch congealed the blood in his veins; his heart seemed frozen, and he sank upon his couch insensible. And now stood before his mental eye in bright vision the assembly of illustrious Spirits who inhabit the pavilion of Mount Caucasus. The superior genius extended his wand, and Amorassan saw his own praise-worthy deeds appear upon the glowing pannels; but far out-shining all the rest, was the service which he daily rendered to the poor old palsied fisherman.

" Amorassan!" said the genius, Gela-Eddin, “ your affections have revived those flowers of your life, which the breath of cold unfeeling prudence had chilled and blighted. Let your heart prompt your measures for the future-let your understanding advise the means- let benevolence and reason unite in forming your plans, and then may you walk forward in your appointed course with firm and fearless footsteps. Beyond this, all is destiny's!"

Amorassan awoke; the roseate vapours of the vision still seemed to glow upon his countenance; and the voice of the genius still sounded in his ears.

*

In future to avoid princes; it was, however, the destiny of Amorassan to find the affairs of princes continually intermingled with his own. Scarcely had three months elapsed since his marriage, when one night a knocking was heard at the door of his new dwelling; a convenient house which the Sultan had caused to be erected.

Leilah hastened to the door. A youth

During his convalescence, a close friendship was formed between the stranger and his host. Amorassan at length revealed to him the most secret transactions of his life; and the stranger repaid his confidence.

" Your story," said he, " in many respects is not unlike my own. I too was born to prosperity and a palace, and my father was one to whom the painful task is allotted of governing his fellow-creatures.

" I had a brother, one who possessed a pure and generous heart: and this brother loved me, as never brother loved a brother before; I loved this brother as never man before was loved by man.

"Our father was a wise sovereign : he had witnessed our affection with satisfaction; but when the years of manhood were approaching, he became apprehensive, lest the younger son should be tempted by this equality to forget his duty to his future master, and began to consider so intimate a connection as highly dangerous to my brother and the state."

At this part of Ben Hafi's tale, the Caliph became much agitated, and exclaimed" Surely it is not possiblebut proceed! Quick, quick, Ben Hati."

Ben Hafi continued" One day our father sent for us into his closet, and telling us the different duties of our stations, commanded me in future never more to address or approach my future master with that familiarity, to which I had hitherto been accustomed. He left us-we remained silent and bewildered; at length I raised my eyes to my brother's, they were filled with tears." And at this moment tears gushed from the eyes of the Caliph.

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