see, when this base peasant is destroyed, new 'beams of sprightliness awake within her.'

'Hold, vizir!' 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.'

Mirglip and Nourenhi slowly obeyed the commands of Adhim, falling prostrate before him; and both seemed more to fear for each other than for themselves.

Love, vassals!' said Adhim, drawing forth his scymitar, was your crime; be love your punishment;-rise and enjoy each other: and 'so far shall Adhim be from separating your 'constant hearts, that I now draw this shining

scymitar against your enemies; and he who 'loves not Mirglip and Nourenhi, is a traitor 'to his prince. Nor think it, constant pair!

a small conquest I have made; for even yet, 'while reason and while justice persuade me 'to bless you, intemperance and passion urgè 'to your destruction: therefore withdraw, lest some fond sigh from fair Nourenhi's breast 'kindle anew the fever of my blood.'

Lemack, who was thunderstruck at the un

expected change, had time in some measure to recover while Adhim spoke; and, courtierlike, 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 Mirglip's temperance be no more remembered; for ' thou, O Adhim! by this single deed, hast 'shewn more mastery of thy passions than 'this Persian has achieved in all his life.'

'True, noble vizir!' answered the thankful Mirglip: 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.'

Nor think, O 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 Ad'him's generous kindness: shall not these 'watery eyes, which thou hast blest, O sul

'tan! reflect more pleasure on thy soul than all the brutal joys which force could give thee? Yes, noble Adhim!' continued she, clasping 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 vizir 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!' answered Mirglip, we are bound by every tie to do as thou commandest; and the good Fincal, when he hears how greatly Adhim has condescended 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 scene of life, and mix with 'anxious courtiers; and much instruction shall

thy sultan lose if Fincal regard me as the prince of Persia: for though the sovereign of a kingdom, I am not yet above the wise 'direction 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 I may kindle at the glorious presence of your animating sage, and treasure up such know'ledge as shall bless my people.'

The astonished Lemack heard the resolutions of Adhim with surprise, and feared lest his sultan should require his presence at the mortifying lectures of the good dervise of the groves; but his grim countenance shone with joy, when Adhim, taking him aside, declared his intention of leaving the reins of government in his hands till his return.

The subtle vizir, 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 vizir that he should take all necessary precautions, but that Lemack must submit to hold the reins of government till his return; and in the mean time he commanded his vizir to send for a cadi, and to make all preparations in the palace for the nuptials of Mirglip and Nourenhi.

The city of Raglai, and the inhabitants of the plains of Orez, were surprised at the sudden alteration in Mirglip's favour, which was soon published about the palaces and cities; and every wish was, that Adhim would resume the power of administering justice to his people, and not leave his slaves in the hands of the vizir Lemack.

Adhim caused the nuptials of Mirglip and Nourenhi to be celebrated with all magnificence; and Mirglip, 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 sent for his favourite, and reminded him of his promise; and told him that he intended to pass for the son of a nobleman, who was desirous of enjoying the instructions of his father-in-law.

Mirglip and Nourenhi were rejoiced to hear