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 rose and 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 Abudah to himself, "here is neither pomp, nor luxury, nor vanity; here is rural peace, and quietness, and tranquillity, which knows no sorrow."

As thus Abudah mused within 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 of our flocks and herds!"

Abudah 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, fearing 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 Brahmin 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 arose, and made obeisance, saying: "Know, O Sultan, I rise not to the Tyrant of Tasgi; but I bow before him whom it has pleased

Allah to set over his people. But wherefore shouldst thou seek to do evil, that thou 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 virtue and benevolence, and a faithful religion, are the means of possessing that 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."

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"Good and pious Brahmin," replied Abudah, 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 Brahmin.

"I left it," replied Abudah," in the mansions of Philosophy, which may not be found without crossing the brook, and risking the fury of the tiger."

"There is," answered the Brahmin, "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 him 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 Brahmin 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 Месса.

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-excepted keys.

"Begin," said Barhaddan, "O Abudah, and search for thy treasure," Abudah obeyed; and in a moment 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 hand, and draw forth the contents of the chest." Abudah obeyed; and first he took up a beautiful but bleeding hand, with a curious bracelet of diamonds.

"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 ornament ?"

As Abudah was going to draw again, out stepped a poor wretch, laden with his bags of gold, trembling and looking behind. Next, on a sudden, a gay youth, with a poignard, stabbed the miser to the heart; upon which several women, in loose attire, came and shared with him the spoil, and begau

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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 bowstring 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 in motion: some looking unto the skies, some drawing circles in the air with straws, some jabbering ridiculous notions, that the same quantity was both more and less than itself.

When these were passed, Barhaddan asked Abudah, "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: and that, therefore, these can never lead us to the perfect Talisman of Oromanes."

"What didst thou understand by the feathers ?" said Barhaddan.

"I knew not their meaning," answered Abudah.

"They," continued the Genius Barhaddan, "were the thousand light, airy, inconsistent hopes and wishes, which lie on the top of every man's heart: which have some kind of tendency to the Talisman, and so they are the first on the top of the chest.

"And now, O merchant Abudah," said Barhaddan, "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 crutches before Barhaddan.

"I 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 to it, should be the first and last pursuit of mortality, till it may please the Eternal Power to remove him from trial 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 years, contemplate the happiness thou art so anxious to recommend." The hag trembled and obeyed: the chest closed with violence, 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;