8. Quick the Satrap dashed the goblet down to earth with ready hand,

9.

And the liquid sank for ever, lost amid the burning sand.

66

Thou hast said that mine my life is till the water of that cup

I have drained-then bid thy servants that spilt water gather up."

10. For a moment stood the Caliph as by doubtful passions stirred,

Then exclaimed-" For ever sacred must remain a monarch's word.

11. Bring another cup, and straightway to the noble Persian give :

Drink, I said before, and perish; now I bid thee drink, and live."

THE HISTORY OF ALNASCHAR.—II.

Alnaschar's neighbour, the tailor, who had heard the whole of his extravagant speech, burst out into a fit of laughter when he saw the basket overturned. "Oh, you cruel wretch," said he to my brother, "ought you not to expire with shame at ill-treating a young wife in such a manner, when she has given you no reason for complaint? You must be hard-hearted indeed to pay no attention to the tears, and be insensible to the charms

of so amiable a lady. If I were in the place of your father-in-law, the Grand Vizier, I would order you a

hundred strokes with a leathern strap, and send you round the city with the praise you so well merit."

This most unfortunate accident brought my brother

to his senses, and knowing that it was his own foolish pride that had caused it, he beat his breast, tore his garments, and sobbed so violently and loud, that all the neighbourhood soon assembled. Just at this time a lady of considerable consequence passed by, mounted on a mule very richly caparisoned. The state in which she saw my brother excited her compassion. She asked who he was, and the reason of his crying so violently, and on hearing of his misfortune, she gave him a purse containing five hundred pieces of gold. Alnaschar was ready to expire with joy at the sight of it. He bestowed a thousand blessings on the lady, and after shutting up his shop, he went home.

He made many serious reflections on the good fortune which had so unexpectedly happened to him; and while he was thus employed, he heard some person knock at his door. Before he opened it, he asked who was there, and perceiving it was a female voice, he opened it. "My son," said she, addressing my brother, "I have a favour to request of you. It is now the time for prayers, and I wish to wash myself, in order to be fit to offer them. Suffer me, I entreat you, to come into your house, and afford me a basin of water." My brother looked at her, and saw she was rather advanced in years; and although he did not know her, he nevertheless did as she wished. He gave her a vessel full of water, and then resumed his seat. He began again to be wrapped up in thoughts of his adventure; he took his gold and put it into a sort of long and narrow purse, adapted to the purpose of carrying it at his girdle. The old woman in the meantime said her prayers; and when she had finished, she approached my brother, and thanked him for his kindness.

As she was but meanly dressed, he thought that she required charity; and he offered her therefore two pieces of gold. The old woman drew back with as much surprise as if my brother had done her an injury. "Put

back your money," said she, "for I have no necessity for it. I belong to a young lady in this city of unequalled beauty, and so rich that she does not let me. want for anything."

My brother was not cunning enough to perceive the address of the old woman who refused the two pieces of gold, only to dupe him the more. He asked her if she could not procure him the honour of seeing this lady. "Certainly," answered she, " and you may even be able to marry her and get possession of all her fortune; take your money and follow me." Delighted with having so unexpectedly received such a large sum of money, and of finding almost immediately after a beautiful and rich wife, he lost all recollection of everything else. He took the five hundred pieces of gold, and suffered the old woman to conduct him.

She went on before, and he followed her till they came to the door of a large house, at which she knocked. He came up to her just as a young female Greek slave opened the door. The old woman made him go in first; he passed through a well-paved court, and she then introduced him into a hall, the furniture of which confirmed him in the high opinion he had formed of the mistress of the house. No sooner had he sat down than the lady of the house made her appearance, and he was much more struck with her beauty than with the magnificence and richness of her dress. He rose up the moment he perceived her. She expressed great joy at seeing him, and said to him, "We are not here sufficiently at our ease; come, give me your hand." And the same instant holding out her own, she led him to a distant apartment, where they remained some time in conversation; she then left him with a promise of returning in a few moments. He waited some time, when instead of the lady, a large black slave entered, with a scimitar in his hand. He immediately stripped

Alnaschar, took away his gold, and wounded him with his scimitar in several parts of his flesh. The poor unfortunate man fell down on the ground, where he remained without motion, though he did not lose his senses. The black slave, thinking he had killed him, asked for some salt, of which the Greek slave brought him a large dish. They then rubbed it over my brother's wounds, and threw him through a trap-door into an underground place, in which there were the bodies of different people who had been murdered. The salt with which his wounds had been rubbed was what preserved his life; he soon after felt himself sufficiently strong to sit up; and at the end of two days he opened the trap-door in the night, and observing a place in a court in which he could conceal himself, he remained there till daybreak. He then saw the detestable old woman come out; she opened the street door, and went in search of more prey. As soon as she was gone too

far to observe him, he let himself out of this cut-throat

1. In schools of wisdom all the day was spent, His steps at eve the Rabbi homeward bent, With homeward thoughts that dwelled upon his wife, And two fair children who adorned his life. She, meeting at the threshold, led him in. "Ever rejoicing at your wished return, Yet do I most so now, for since the morn