"That contrivance would have little effect," said the Sultan. "Happuck

would elude our search, and, transforming himself into some reptile,

escape our vengeance, and then meditate some new device to deceive

us. No, Horam," continued Misnar, "if he be really with us, it were

folly to let him escape."

"But how will my lord discover him amidst three hundred thousand

troops?" answered the Vizier. "There is no officer in your army who

knows the fiftieth part of your soldiers; and where recruits are daily

coming in, to search for a particular person, without giving the alarm

so that Happuck might escape, would be impossible."

"In how many ranks," said the Sultan, "is the army to be disposed?"

"The plain," answered the Vizier, "on which they are to be reviewed

will contain three thousand in a row."

"Bring me, then, two hundred of the most expert archers in my army,"

said the Sultan, "and take them from those troops who are the farthest

from the deserters who lately joined the army."

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."

"They are almost assembled already," said Horam.

"Then," replied the Sultan, "take these archers, and place one at each

extremity 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 all the army to fall

prostrate, let your arrows fly at the man who is last to obey the word

of command.'"

The troops being all drawn forth in their ranks, and the archers

disposed according to the Sultan's orders, Misnar came forth, attended

by his eunuchs, Viziers, Emirs, and guards. The loud clarion sounded,

the notes of the trumpets were heard, and the brazen cymbals shook the

air.

The magician, who was impatient to perpetrate the malicious purposes

of his heart, was elated at the warlike sound, and 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, having 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 neither care nor resolution

has been wanting on your parts to extirpate the rebellion of my

provinces, yet to Allah only 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 before the

all-seeing Allah, the Governor of the world and the Disposer of

kingdoms and crowns."

As this order went forth through the ranks, the soldiers at once fell

prostrate before Allah, 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 Allah and His Prophet; but the stream

of life flowed swiftly from him, and his curses grew fainter and

fainter, till they were lost in death.

Those who were acquainted with the designs of Happuck, perceiving that

the magician was dead and their plot discovered, began to fly; and

first Ibrac essayed to head his discarded troops; but they, not being

used to march on foot, soon fell into confusion, and, the forces of

the Sultan surrounding them, they were quickly 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 inquire into the cause of their disorder.

The Vizier had no sooner arrived than he perceived several soldiers

bringing along the body of the magician Happuck, which appeared

undisguised after death.

"Bid the two archers," said the Vizier, "who destroyed the monster

come forward."

When the archers came, Horam applauded their skill and their

obedience, and advised them to take the body between them, and carry

it before the Sultan.

The archers obeyed, and, the ranks opening as they passed, they soon

arrived at the feet of Misnar.

The Sultan, seeing his enemy thus destroyed, ordered the two archers

ten purses, containing each one hundred pieces of gold; and to every

other archer one purse containing one hundred pieces of gold. To him

who brought the head of Ibrac also he gave five purses of like value;

and then again issued his commands that the whole army should fall

prostrate and adore the mercy of Allah, who had so soon delivered into

their hands the chief of their enemies.

In the meantime, two only of the troops of Ibrac and Happuck escaped;

and, returning to Ahubal, they 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 toward 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, 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

castle, whose walls reflected the rays of the sun like burnished gold.

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 dazzling to

behold, 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, appeared again about the

middle of the rocks, and by his course appeared to descend in a spiral

path around the mountain.

When the dwarf had reached the bottom he advanced to Ahubal, and,

presenting him with a clue, he told him that, if he threw it before

him, and followed 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 until it 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 court

into a spacious hall, the walls of which were lined with human bones

that had been whitened in the sun.

"Favourite of the race of the powerful," said Ollomand, "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."

"Alas," answered Ahubal, "Ulin is no more, and the vultures are

preying on the vitals of Happuck! Ten provinces have deserted my

cause, and the coffers of my army are exhausted!"

"Happuck," answered Ollomand, "despised the assistance of riches and

trusted to deceit, and therefore failed. The provinces dared not

revolt while the armies of Misnar overawed them; but I will replenish

thy coffers, and Ollomand will tempt the leaders of the Sultan's

troops to join the cause of Ahubal. In this castle are riches and arms

sufficient to equip all the inhabitants of Asia; and when these are

exhausted, we will apply to Pharesanen, Hapacuson, and all the

chieftains of our race: and fear not, Ahubal; for, by my art, I read

that Misnar the Sultan shall fly before the face of his enemies."

Ahubal was encouraged by the words of Ollomand; and the enchanter,

having opened his design to the Prince, invited him to behold the

riches of his castle.

Passing through the hall of 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 massive gates of

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 echoed like thunder amidst

the lofty turrets of the castle, and commanded his slaves to expose to

the sight of Ahubal the treasures of their master.

The Prince Ahubal, who had seen no creature but the dwarf and the

enchanter in the castle, wondered whence the slaves would come; but

his wonder was shortly turned into fear when he beheld 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 his horrors were increased when he perceived a 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 prepared 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

hinges sent forth a noise which alone had chilled the hearts of all

the armies of Misnar, could they have heard them.

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

unchiselled 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 devised.

Ahubal, who understood but little of these instruments, was amazed at

their construction, and asked for what purposes they were formed.

"These," said Ollomand, "are the arms of Europe, a part of the earth

filled with industrious robbers, whose minds are hourly on the stretch

to invent new plagues to torment each other. Of these mortals many are

settled on the sea-coasts of our southern provinces, whom I shall

persuade through the instigation of that god whom they worship, to

join the forces of Ahubal."

"Hast thou, then, mighty enchanter," answered the Prince Ahubal, "the

gods of Europe in thy power?"

"The Europeans," said Ollomand, "acknowledge one God, who, they

pretend, doth inhabit the heavens, but whom _we_ find buried in the

entrails of the earth: gold, O Prince, is their god, for whose sake

they will undertake the most daring enterprises, and forsake the best

of friends. To these shalt thou send presents, and future promises of

wealth; and, by their machinations, fear not but Misnar shall yield to

thy superior address."

"What need of the arms or the persons of Europeans," answered the

Prince Ahubal, "while my friend has an army of such gigantic slaves,

ten of whom are more than sufficient to destroy the puny armies of my

brother the Sultan?"

"Alas!" said Ollomand, "the slaves of enchantment cannot fight against

the sons of the Faithful. Though we deny Mahomet, and will not adore

him, yet we cannot control a power that must overrule us. As Misnar's

troops are in possession of the country, we will transport ourselves

to Orixa in the disguise of merchants, and there endeavour to forward

the destruction of Misnar, the tame Sultan of the East."

As Ollomand spake these words he 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 cloud 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 merchandise, and

the chariot was converted into an elephant. Ahubal became like a

merchant, and the enchanter appeared as a black slave.

They entered the town in the evening, and the next morning exposed

their goods in the market-place.

The bales of Ahubal, the sham merchant, being opened, were found to

contain chiefly materials for clothing the officers of the 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 offers, 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 proposal; 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 advice 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, so an easier conquest was

made over the loyalty of the troops than could have been made over

their prowess by the sword.

In a few moons all the southern provinces were ripe for a revolt, and

the troops who were sent to overawe them were most desirous of

opening the campaign against their Sultan. Two hundred French

engineers were also invited, by large rewards, to join the armies of

Ahubal; and the troops were supplied by the vigilance of the enchanter

Ollomand.

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 thousands 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 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 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, Allah alone is the

friend of Misnar; a friend more mighty than the armies of Ahubal, or

the sorceries of the enchanters."

Misnar then assembled his troops; and putting himself at their head,

he marched by easy stages towards 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 the enchanter, notwithstanding Ahubal had thrown off the

disguise of a merchant, still attended him as a black slave, being

always about his person, till the freedom which the Prince allowed him

was resented by the officers of his army. This the enchanter

perceived; and therefore he desired Ahubal would grant him five

thousand of his troops, and the European engineers, that he might

advance before the main army, and signalize himself by a blow which he

meditated to give the enemy.

The counsel of Ollomand was never opposed by Ahubal; the Prince

commanded the troops to attend Ollomand, and be subject unto him.

The enchanter then marched with his selected troops into a thick wood,

which the army of Misnar must pass through ere they could oppose their

enemies; and in this wood the engines of European war were placed, to

command every avenue which had been hewn out by the troops of the

Sultan.

Ollomand, marching by night, surprised all the advanced guards of the

Sultan, and possessed himself of the wood, where he placed the

European engineers, before the sun could penetrate through the

branches of the forest of Narvar.

This enterprise would have ruined all the hopes of the Sultan, who

proposed to march his army through the next day, if the Europeans had

continued faithful to Ahubal and his party; but one, favoured by the

darkness of the night, escaped, and betrayed the whole design to the

Sultan.

Misnar was no sooner apprised of the enchanter's contrivance than he

ordered certain of his troops to climb over the mountains to the right

of the wood, and if possible gain the opposite side, and there, in

several parts, set the wood 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 army of Ahubal.

In this distress, the enchanter resolved to dispose of his troops and

engineers in the most advantageous manner, proposing in his mind to

secure his own retreat by the power of enchantment. But while the

subtle enchanter was directing his engineers in the rear to bring up

the fell engines of war, one of the cannon which was left in the wood

(the flames having obliged those who belonged to it to retreat), being

made hot by the raging fires among the trees, discharged its contents,

and a ball striking the enchanter, carried with it 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

fire or sword.

The flames of the wood, which rose between the armies of Misnar and

Ahubal, soon disturbed 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 dispatch arriving from his friend,

Ahubal was filled with just fears, which were greatly increased, as,

in a few days, the fire 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 enchanter, 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; so that 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 desirous of giving them battle before they

had recovered from 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 forces,

used his utmost endeavours to gain the right flank of the enemy.

And now the adverse elephants made the sandy plains shake as they

advanced, and from the turrets on their backs ten thousand hostile

arrows were discharged. The loud hollow cymbals sounded the alarm. The

troops of the Sultan advanced with confidence, and the rebellious

supporters of Ahubal rushed forward with resolute despair. Innumerable

scimitars blazed fearfully over the heads of the warlike. The feet of

the elephants were stained with the blood of the slain. 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 enchanter Tasnar appeared aloft,

seated on a rapacious vulture.

"Base cowards!" exclaimed he, as he hovered in the air, "turn again,

and fear not while Tasnar is your friend. The troops of the Sultan are

exhausted and fatigued, and you are flying from those who are destined

for your prey. Are, then, the riches of Delhi to be so easily

resigned, and your tedious marches over the deserts to be foiled by a

moment's fear? Even now is India offered as the reward of your toils,

and you prefer shame and ignominy to glory and honour!"

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, alighting on the ground, and seizing a javelin, bade the

brave support and defend the avenger of their wrongs.

The Sultan's army, finding their enemies retreat, had followed them in

a tumultuous manner, and were therefore less able to resist the

enchanter Tasnar and those who supported him. And they would have

experienced the truth of the enchanter's assertion, had not the Vizier

Horam, perceiving their resistance, hastened with a few chosen troops

to the 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 superior arm

withhold him when he attempted to demolish the faithful Vizier. But

this prevented not the general slaughter that ensued; till night,

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 Tasnar, and his prowess in the field.

"Alas!" answered Misnar, "it is in vain, O Horam, that the sword is

uplifted against the power of enchantment, so long as these magicians

are prepared against our attacks: we must surprise them, or we cannot

prevail. Tasnar is joined to my faithless brother Ahubal; but there is

in my camp, doubtless, some trusty slave, who will penetrate into the

camp of Ahubal, and destroy this enchanter while he sleeps in

security; and Horam my Vizier must find that slave."

Horam bowed, and went out from 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 that master who has

robbed him of his liberty? Better had I perished by the hand of

Tasnar, than be betrayed through the wickedness of my servants!"

The Vizier, doubtful where to apply or whom to trust, returned to his

tent; where he found an old female 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 himself on his sofa, and

there bemoaned his fate in being commanded to find a trusty slave.

The female slave, who saw her master's tears, cast herself at his

feet, and called Allah to witness that she had always 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! and

canst thou go forth and combat the enchantments of Tasnar, the enemy

of thy master's peace?"

"The locust and the worm," said the female slave, "are the instruments

of Allah'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?" said Horam, careless of what he spoke.

"I will go," answered she, "into the camp of Ahubal, and engage to

poison my master the Vizier, and Misnar the lord of our lives, as I

stand before them to minister unto them the pleasing draught. And

while Tasnar is intently hearing my proposals, the steel of death

shall suddenly search out the vile enchanter's heart."

"But knowest thou not," said Horam, "that death will be the

consequence of this rash deed?"

"My lord," answered the slave, "I was, when 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 rejoiced at the assurances of his female slave, and bade

her immediately prepare herself to appear before the Sultan.

The slave, having put on her veil, followed the Vizier 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?"

"Light of mine eyes!" answered the Vizier, "behold a woman who is

desirous of executing thy commands. 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 should be delivered from the enemy

that oppressed him."

"Then," said the Sultan, "let her go; and may the Prophet of the

Faithful guide her footsteps in 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 mandates, that she might pretend she had

stolen them from his tent, with a design to carry and lay them at the

feet of Tasnar and Ahubal.

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 intended 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, first satisfied himself that she was

really a female slave, and then asked her what brought her alone out

of the camp of the Sultan.

"Bring 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 guard to the pavilion of Ahubal,

where that Prince and the enchanter Tasnar were consulting in private

together.

As soon as the female slave had gained admittance, she fell prostrate

at the feet of Ahubal, which Tasnar observing, commanded the guards to

seize her.

"Let us see," said the enchanter, "what service this 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.

"Have you, base slave," said the enchanter, "aught to reveal to us? or

are you sent as a spy to betray the counsels of the brave?"

"I have," said the female slave (somewhat recovered 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."

She then produced her mandates, and the guards laid them at the feet

of Ahubal.

The Prince Ahubal, having read the papers, gave them to Tasnar,

saying, "These are indeed valuable 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 enchanter, "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 give rewards to those who serve us; and

therefore it is sometimes necessary to do it, that the silly birds may

be the more surely entangled in the snares of State; but when we can

better serve our ends by their destruction than by their safety, it is

but just that we should do so. This slave has already risked her life

for our service, and therefore she will no doubt be ready to lay it

down if we require it."

As the enchanter said this, he called one of the guards, and commanded

him to bring in the female slave and the bow-string.

The slave approached, still held by the guards.

"Kind slave," said the enchanter, "you have already served us much;

there is one thing more that we require: let the slaves fit the

bow-string to thy neck, 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 instantly; after which they retired,

leaving her dead body on the floor of the tent.

"What hast thou done, O Tasnar?" said Ahubal, astonished at the deed.

"I suspect," said the enchanter, "that this female was sent on a vile

errand; and see, 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 enchanter, "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 designed

for mine. But no time must be lost: the morning will, ere long,

disclose its grey light in the east."

Thus it is that deceit often leads into danger, and recoils upon

itself.

The enchanter then put on the garments of the murdered female slave,

and stroking his face, it became like hers, so that Ahubal could

scarcely believe but the slave was revived. He also cut off the head

of the female slave, and, anointing it with a white ointment, it

resembled his own. Thus equipped, the commander of the advanced guard

conducted him to the foremost sentinels of the rebel army. The

disguised 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?"

"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 coming, was seated on his

throne.

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 pretended female was about to ascend the steps of

the throne, when the Vizier commanded her first to fall prostrate

before the Sultan.

The sham 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. "Has envy

thus rashly stirred thee up against my faithful slave, that----"

The Sultan would probably have continued his invective against his

Vizier much longer, had he not beheld the corpse of the dead enchanter

change its appearance, and found that Horam, by the sudden destruction

of Tasnar, had but just preserved his own life.

At the sight of this transformation, Misnar descended from his throne,

and closely embraced his Vizier Horam.

"O Horam, forgive my impetuous temper!" said the Sultan: "how have I

blamed my friend 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 death we have unhappily caused by our

fraud), I bade her, when she returned and saw me, first repeat these

words in my ear: 'Allah is Lord of heaven, Mahomet is His Prophet, and

Misnar is His vicegerent upon earth.' And this precaution I took,

fearful less 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 disguise, and waited till, by prostrating

himself 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 enchanter 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 troops, and there, at a small distance,

saw the hideous features of the enchanter Tasnar already blackening in

the sun. Fear immediately took possession 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 the sun, 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 no one enchanter had succeeded against the Sultan, resolved to

join their forces; and while one led a powerful army 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 meantime, the two armies of the Sultan and Ahubal continued

inactive, till an express arrived that Ahaback was leading the

strength of nine thousand squadrons against their Sultan, and that

Desra was travelling over the plains of Embracan, with three thousand

elephants and a hundred thousand troops from the western provinces.

The Sultan instantly resolved to attack Ahubal before these succours

could arrive; but the Vizier Horam fell at his feet, and besought him

not to hazard his army, but rather to recruit and strengthen it.

This advice, though quite contrary to the opinion 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 expected 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.

The troops of Ahubal, finding themselves free from the attacks of the

Sultan's army, endeavoured to comfort their Prince, who was grieved

and dejected 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 artisans were set to work to

contrive and erect a sumptuous pavilion for the use of the Prince.

To these workmen, all the provinces who acknowledged 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 squadrons of Ahaback drew

nearer and nearer, and the elephants of Desra were within thirty days

of the camp of Ahubal.

The Vizier Horam, having returned with his reinforcements, waited on

the Sultan, and besought him to trust the management of his army to

him for forty days.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "I have such confidence in thy sense and

loyalty, that I grant thy request."

The Vizier, having obtained his end, sent a messenger to Ahubal, and

desired a forty-days' truce between the armies, to which the Prince

readily agreed. In a few hours the truce was proclaimed in the

Sultan's camp; and when Misnar hoped that his Vizier would have

attacked the 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 subjects 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

command of his army for forty days, in which time I propose to build

thee such a pavilion as shall far outshine in splendour every glory

upon earth."

"Horam," answered the Sultan, "I 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, ordering a large spot to be enclosed, that none might

behold his pavilion till it was completed, he proceeded with the work

with great care and assiduity.

While these works of peace, rather than of war, were carrying on in

the two armies of 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 loved war rather than the amusements of

females and children.

The Sultan, who thought, with his captains, that Horam was rather

betraying than forwarding his cause, commanded the Vizier to be

brought before him, and, in the presence of the captains, asked 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

his lord to bring the captains towards the pavilion which he had

erected.

As soon as the Sultan appeared before the enclosure, several slaves

behind were employed to remove it, so that in an instant Misnar and

his captains beheld the most magnificent spectacle that art could

achieve.

The sight of the 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 coffers 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; and 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 within was

supported by four massive pillars of burnished gold; the ceiling of

the canopy within was studded with jewels and diamonds, and under it

were placed two sofas of the richest workmanship.

The Sultan, though much averse to such pageantry, was yet persuaded by

his Vizier to sleep in his new pavilion; and the glorious appearance

which it made brought thousands to view the magnificent abode of their

Sultan.

The account of this splendid tent soon reached Ahubal's army, and

every one extolled the glorious pavilion: so that Ahubal's tent seemed

as nothing in comparison with the Sultan's.

Ahaback and Desra, who were in the Prince's pavilion, hearing the

account, resolved to go invisibly and examine it; and leaving the

Prince, and putting each a ring on his 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 pavilion, 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 outdone him in magnificence.

"Get me a tent more splendid 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; but it will be more glorious to dispossess him of

that which he has built, and to set my Prince upon the throne of his

father: for which purpose let the trumpet sound on the morrow,--the

truce is at an end, and if it were not, we mean not to keep 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 uneasiness?"

The counsel of Ahaback pleased both Desra and Ahubal; and they gave

orders for the troops to march 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 was upon them. The Vizier Horam arose in haste,

and put himself at the head of the army; but, instead of leading them

towards their enemies, he fled off to the right with the choicest of

the troops, and taking possession of a pass in the mountains behind

the pavilion, sent a messenger to inform 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 towards the enemy, at

the same time sending a message to Horam to leave the mountains and

support him.

The 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, overpowered by

numbers, and his own troops on all 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 scattered 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 over, and,

returning to the encampment of the Sultan, they loaded themselves with

the spoils of their enemies.

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 workmanship on the outside, where the deaths of

his former friends were displayed, "Ahaback and Desra," said the

Prince, "it is but just that you should revenge yourselves on my proud

brother. For my part, I never can inhabit a pavilion which was meant

as a 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-deserved success: wherefore, to-night, my friends, take up your

residence 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 conquerors 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 his captains, and commanded the Vizier

Horam to be brought before them. The Vizier was condemned by every

voice, and Misnar, with tears 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 a hundred men, and a

captain was appointed to guard him until morning.

The unfortunate Sultan then retired to rest in an obscure tent, or

rather not to rest, but to an irksome contemplation.

"My kingdom," said he, "is passed from me, and, worse than my kingdom,

my friend, my dearly beloved Horam, has proved a traitor to his

master."

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 the Sultan, "that he cometh 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 you not satisfied," said Misnar, "O ill-fated Horam, that you

come to deceive me with new illusions? Where is my kingdom? where my

royalty? where my army? By thy fatal counsels destroyed, overwhelmed,

confounded! Now, then, lead the 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 held 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 at the extremity of the cavern. In a moment it 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?" said the Vizier.

"He watches," replied the slaves, "with the axe in his hand."

"What hour of the night is it?" 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 this?" said the Sultan.

"Who is Camul? and what axe doth he bear in his hand? Lead me, Horam,

not into danger, and remember that the sabre of my captain hangeth

over thy head."

The Sultan then entered in at the little door, and followed the Vizier

and his guard, and the four slaves with flambeaux in their hands.

In this manner Misnar passed through a long passage hewn out of the

solid rock, till he beheld, at a distance, 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 falling prostrate, desired Misnar 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?"

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 through 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 discover: pardon my follies, and avenge thine own

losses by the sword of justice."

"What!" said the Sultan, enraged, "hast thou brought me 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 Horam as ill employed as their master lately has been?

Lead me, villain!" continued he, "back to my tent, and expect with the

rising of the sun the fate you have so amply merited."

Thus saying, the Sultan returned, and the captain of the guard led

Horam back in chains to his place of confinement.

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 conducted to his fate.

The Vizier, unmoved at his doom, surrendered himself to the officer

who was to execute the Sultan's sentence; 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

rebellious 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."

This messenger was succeeded by several of the Sultan's spies, who

confirmed the account.

Misnar then put himself at the head of his troops, ordered Horam back

to his former confinement, and hastened to fall upon the forces of the

rebels.

Early the same morning, 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?" 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? Alas! what can _I_ effect against them, when these fall away

before his victorious arm?"

"Prince," answered the guards, "we have too late discovered the wiles

of our enemies. Over the magnificent pavilion of the Sultan, which

Horam built for his master, the artful Vizier had concealed a

ponderous stone, which covered the whole pavilion. This, by some

secret means, he contrived in the night to release from its

confinement, while Ahaback and Desra were sleeping on the sofas

beneath it; and ere day began to rise, their guards were 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 troops were unable to

remove the stone from the ground."

At these words the countenance and the heart of Ahubal sank; and ere

he could recover, word was brought him that the Sultan's troops were

in the 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, that, instead of

leading his troops, he prepared himself for flight; and Misnar,

pursuing his good fortune, was in a few hours in possession, not only

of his own tents, but also of those of the enemy.

Having gained a complete victory, and sent part of his troops after

those that were fled, the Sultan commanded his Vizier to be brought

before him, and, in the sight of his army, asked him what merit he

could challenge in the success of that day.

"The contrivances of thy slave had been useless," Horam replied, "if a

less than my Sultan had afterwards led his troops to the battle.

Therefore thine only be the glory and the honour of the day; but my

lord must know, that some time since we were informed that the

enchanters Ahaback and Desra were preparing to uphold thy rebellious

brother; and well I knew that prudence, and not force, must prevail

against them. I therefore besought my lord to grant me the chief

command for forty days, and neglected to take such advantages over

Ahubal's troops as the captains of thy armies advised.

"This I did, knowing that any victory would be vain and fruitless, if

the enchanters were not involved in the ruin; and that, while they

were safe, a second army would spring up as soon as the first was

destroyed. For these reasons, I endeavoured to strengthen my Sultan's

army, that when the reinforcements of Ahaback and Desra should arrive,

their numbers might not prevail against us.

"In the meantime, the sumptuous pavilion which was built for Ahubal

inspired me with a device, which I hoped would put the enchanters in

my power.

"Studious that no one might interrupt or betray my designs, I enclosed

a place near the mountains, surrounded with trees, where I began to

build a pavilion, which I gave out was erected in honour of my lord

the Sultan: within this pavilion I concealed a massy stone, which was

sawn out of the solid rock, and which, by the help of several engines,

was hung upon four pillars of gold, and covered the whole pavilion.

The rope which upheld this massy stone passed through one of the

golden pillars into the earth beneath, and, by a secret channel cut in

the rock, was carried onward through the side of the mountain, and was

fastened to a ring of iron in a cave hollowed out of the rock on the

opposite side.

"By the time the enchanters were arrived in the camp of Ahubal, the

pavilion was finished; and although I had secret advice that my

Sultan's troops were to be attacked on the morrow, yet I chose to

conceal that knowledge, and so to dispose of the army that the chief

part might fly with me behind the mountains which hung over the

pavilion, and that the rest, having no conductor, might be put to

flight with as little slaughter as possible. This I did, expecting

that Ahaback and Desra, puffed up with their good fortune, would take

possession of my Sultan's pavilion."

"Rise, faithful Horam," said the Sultan Misnar; "your plot is

sufficiently unravelled; but why did you hide your intentions from

your lord?"

"Lord of my life," answered the Vizier, "because I was resolved, in

case my plot did not succeed, to bear the burden myself, that my

Sultan's honour might not be lessened in the eyes of his troops."

This noble confession of the Vizier pleased the whole army, and they

waited with the utmost impatience to hear his pardon pronounced.

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 to him.

And now, in a few days, the army would have been totally 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?"

"Prince of earth," said Ahubal, "I am the friend of Ulin, of Happuck,

of Ollomand, of Tasnar, of Ahaback, and of Desra. I am he who, through

the power of the enchanters, have contended for the throne of India."

"Wretched, then, are they that league with thee," answered the giant

Kifri, "thou son of fear, thou wretch unworthy of such support! Was it

for thee, base coward, that Ollomand poured forth his unnumbered

stores? that the plains of India were dyed with the blood of Desra,

the mistress of our race?"

As Kifri spake thus, his broad eyeballs glowed like the red orb of day

when covered with dark fleeting clouds, and from his nostrils issued

forth the tempest and the flame.

In an instant he seized on the fear-shaken Ahubal, as the eagle shuts

within her bloody talons 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 mountains. The blood of Ahubal ran

down from the mountain's side, and his mangled limbs, crushed by the

fall, hung quivering on the pointed rocks.

The death of Ahubal lessened not the fury of Kifri; but all that

followed the unhappy Prince experienced his rage, till, glutted with

blood, and tired of his revenge, the monstrous giant sank to rest, and

stretched out his limbs upon the tops of the mountains.

But the sleep of Kifri was cumbrous as his body. In the visions of the

night came Ulin before him, and the ghost of the murdered Happuck was

in the eye of his fancy.

"Enemy of our race," said they, "where is he who was to redeem our

glory and to revenge our blood? Where is Ahubal, of whom the dark

saying went forth, that none but our race could overpower him? The

dark saying is now interpreted by thy shameful deed, and the powers of

enchantment 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 gathered around him, and

poured its fury against him.

The giant bent his body towards a huge rock, whereon he had slept, and

straining his tough sinews, tore up the mighty fragment from the

ground. The earth felt the shock, and its dark entrails trembled; but

Kifri, undismayed, threw the wild ruin to the clouds. The labouring

mountain returned quickly on the rebellious head of the giant,

crushing him beneath its ponderous mass, and finished, by its descent,

the life and the presumption 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.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "our enemies are no more; seven are

destroyed, and one weak woman alone remains. But since Kifri, the

terror of Asia, has fallen a sacrifice to the cause of Ahubal, and

since the rebel is himself destroyed, what has Misnar more to fear?

However, let our army be yet increased: let trusty nabobs be sent into

every province, and nothing omitted which may preserve the peace of

my empire: it is the part of prudence to watch most where there is the

least appearance of danger."

The Vizier Horam obeyed his master's command; and Misnar, having

regulated his army, returned in triumph to Delhi.

The Sultan, having restored peace to his kingdoms, began to administer

impartial justice to his subjects: and, although the faith of Horam

had often been tried, yet Misnar chose not to rely altogether 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

delay not to punish the licentious and rebellious, yet shall I ever

study to gain the hearts of my obedient subjects. A father's frown may

restrain his children, 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 private malice may be wreaking as great

cruelty upon some innocent person, as the Princess Hemjunah 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 Princess, she is possibly with her father in Cassimir; but Mahoud

is doubtless an inhabitant of Delhi, where he lived before his

transformation; therefore, O Vizier, give immediate orders that the

respective Cadis of each division of the city, who have the numbers

and the names of every inhabitant within their district, be questioned

concerning this jeweller's son; and let him to-morrow be brought

before me."

The Vizier Horam did as he was commanded, and sent for all the Cadis

of the city, and examined them concerning Mahoud; 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.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "my Cadis 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."

"Prince of my life," answered the Vizier, "if Mahoud is in this city,

he is doubtless disguised, and has reasons for concealing himself; and

how shall thy officers of justice discover, among many millions, one

obscure person, who is studious to hide himself?"

"In a well-regulated city," answered the Sultan, "every one is known,

and sound policy has always invented such distinctions as may prevent

the disguise of designing and wicked men. But, till my capital is

better regulated, 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

disguises for yourself and me; and let the Emir Matserak be sent

ambassador to the Sultan of Cassimir, to inquire after the welfare of

the Princess Hemjunah."

The Vizier, in obedience to the Sultan's orders, sent the habits of

two fakeers 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 the royal palace, one

habited like a fakeer, with his 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 fakeer

pulling out the provision he had received, they began their repast.

"Brother," said the fakeer to the disguised Sultan, "you are, I

perceive, but a novice in your profession; 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 approach to this city."

"What," answered the Sultan hastily, "were they? Perhaps, brother, you

mistake me: possibly, though not so communicative as yourself, I may

nevertheless be as brave and resolute."

"Alas!" answered the fakeer, "I begin to suspect that you are no true

brother: you know we are communicative among ourselves, but secret to

the world about us. By the faith which I profess, I will no longer

converse with you unless you give me some convincing proofs of the

genuineness of your profession!"

Here the Vizier, perceiving that the Sultan was hard pressed,

interrupted the fakeer, and said, "O holy fakeer, 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

thine ears."

"Brother," answered the fakeer, "the fame of Elezren is not confined

to Delhi alone, since all Asia receives him; 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?"

At these words the fakeer sprang from the ground, and, running into

the streets, he made the air echo with his complaints.

The mob, hearing that two young men had personated the appearance of

the 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 fakeer."

Luckily for the Prince, several of the foremost were well acquainted

with his features, or it is probable the mob would have looked upon

the Vizier's speech as only a device to prevent their fury. But when

the fakeer saw the foremost of the crowd acknowledge Misnar as their

Sultan, and fall down before him, he tried to escape.

"My friends," said the Sultan, "secure that wretch, and suffer him not

to escape. And, Horam," said he, turning to his 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 Horam, "are a law which cannot be

changed. But let me beseech my Prince to retire from the crowd."

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 his 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 fancy, is sufficiently seen from our adventure this day:

wherefore I would have every man endeavour to fill his real character

and to shine in that, and not attempt what belongs to another, in

which he can gain no credit, and runs a great hazard of disgrace."

The Vizier went forth, and brought the fakeer bound in chains before

the Sultan.

The fakeer advanced to the presence of the Sultan, full of shame and

fear; and falling at his footstool, 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 words; "whom hast thou

slain, O wicked fakeer, that thine own fears should turn evidence

against thee?"

"Alas!" answered the fakeer, "hear me, most injured lord, for the

blood of my brother presseth me sore.

"As I journeyed yesterday, and was arrived within a league of the city

of Delhi, I turned me towards a place walled round, which I supposed

was a repository for 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 I perceived at one end a stone sepulchre, whose mouth

was opened, and the stone rolled from it. Surprised at the sight, I

walked forward to 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, drew his sabre and made toward me to

kill me. Whereupon 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

ground; 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 wondering how it was possible for me to destroy two lives

by avenging myself on one wretch, who, without offence, had meditated

my death, I stayed my hand; which the young man seeing, he aimed to

pull the sabre out of my hand, whereupon I lifted up the sabre above

his head, and 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 overtake me, and flew till

I 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 fakeers."

"And what," said the Sultan, "has made thee thine own accuser, since

the life you took was in your own defence? If thy tale is true, his

blood rests on his own head, who was the aggressor; but the story is

so singular, that I shall detain thee till my Vizier and a party of

soldiers be sent to search the enclosure you have mentioned."

The Vizier then gave orders for the guard to mount their horses, and

the Sultan resolved to accompany the Vizier, the fakeer being carried

between two of the guards to point out the scene of the encounter.

The party having arrived at the iron gate of the enclosure, Horam,

with ten of the guards, went in on foot, and marched with the fakeer

to the tomb where he heard the voices, and whence the young man had

issued forth.

As they approached the tomb they beheld the body of the young man on

the ground, and his head at a distance.

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. The

stone case was covered with a flat marble, which the guards could not

remove from its place.

The Vizier, being acquainted with these particulars, returned to the

Sultan, and related to him what the guards had discovered. But Misnar,

recollecting the many devices which the enchanters had prepared to

ensnare him, was very doubtful what course to take.

On a sudden the moon, which shone exceeding bright, was overcast, and

the clouds appeared of a glowing red, like the fiery heat of a burning

furnace; hollow murmurs were heard at a distance, and a putrid and

suffocating smell arose; when, in the midst of the fiery clouds, the

black form of a haggard and hideously distorted female became visible,

furiously riding on an unwieldy monster with many legs.

In an instant the clouds to the east disappeared, and the heavens from

that quarter shone like the meridian sun, and discovered a lovely

graceful nymph, the brightness of whose features expressed the

liveliest marks of meekness, grace, and love.

"Hapacuson," said the fair one, addressing herself to the hag, "why

wilt thou vainly brandish thy rebellious arms against the powers of

Heaven? If the Sultan, though he be the favourite of Allah, do wrong,

the Mighty One, who delighteth in justice, will make thee the

instrument of His vengeance on the offending Prince. But know the

extent of thy power, vain woman! and presume not to war against the

will of Heaven, lest the battle of the faithful genii be set in array

against thee, and thou be joined to the number of those who are

already fallen."

"Proud vassal of light," answered the enchantress Hapacuson, "I fear

not thy threats, nor the bright pageants that surround thee: war,

tumult, chaos, and darkness, fear and dismay, are to me more welcome

than the idle splendours of thy Master."

"Abandoned wretch!" answered the bright being, "defile not thy

Maker's creations by thy blasphemous tongue; but learn at least to

fear that Mighty One thou art not worthy to honour."

Thus saying, she blew from her mouth a vivid flame, like a sharp two

edged-sword, which, entering into the clouds that surrounded

Hapacuson, the hag gave a horrible shriek, and the thick clouds

rolling around her, she flew away into the darkness.

The fair one then descending towards the Sultan, the brightness

disappeared, and Misnar, the Vizier, and the guards, fell prostrate

before her.

"Arise, Misnar," said she, "Heaven's favourite! and fear not to enter

the tomb, where the enchantments of Hapacuson are now at an end."

The Sultan was about to answer, but the fair one led the way to the

tomb, and commanded him to enter with her, and uncover the stone case

which stood at the upper end.

As the lid was removing, a sigh issued from its case, and a lovely

female arose as from a deep sleep.

"Inform me," said the Sultan, "whom it is my happy fate to release

from this wretched confinement?"

"Alas!" answered the beautiful maiden, "art thou the vile Bennaskar,

or the still more vile Mahoud? Oh, 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 Cassimir?"

"Illustrious Hemjunah," said the Vizier Horam, as the Princess stared

wildly about her, "Misnar, the Sultan of India, is before thee."

"Yes," interrupted the fair spirit, "doubt not, Hemjunah, the truth of

the Vizier Horam; for behold! Macoma, thy guardian genius, assures

thee of the reality of what thou beholdest."

"Helper of the afflicted," answered the Princess of Cassimir, "doubt

vanishes when you are present; but wonder not at my incredulity, since

my whole life has been a false illusion. O Allah, wherefore hast Thou

made the weakest the most subject to deceit?"

"To call in question the wisdom of Allah," answered the genius Macoma,

"is to act like the child of folly: go, then, thou mirror of justice

and understanding, and span with thy mighty arms the numberless

heavens of the Faithful; weigh in thy just balance the wisdom of thy

Maker, and the fitness of His creation; and, joined with the evil race

from whom I have preserved thee, rail at that goodness thou canst not

comprehend."

"Spare me, just genius," answered the Princess of Cassimir; "spare the

weakness of my disordered head. I confess my folly; but weak is the

offspring of weakness."

"True," replied the genius; "but although you are weak, ought you

therefore to be presumptuous? Knowest thou not that the Sultan Misnar

suffered with you because he despaired? And now would Hapacuson return

thee to thy former slumbers, did not Allah, who has beheld thy former

sufferings, in pity forgive the vain thoughts of mortality."

"Blessed is His goodness," answered the Princess, "and blessed are His

servants, who delight in succouring and instructing the weak and

distressed."

"To be sorry for our errors," said the genius, "is to bring down the

pardon of Heaven; and Hemjunah, though so long overpowered by the

malicious, is nevertheless one of the loveliest of her sex.

"Sultan of India," continued Macoma, turning to Misnar, "I leave the

Princess of Cassimir to your care, in full assurance that the delicacy

of her sentiments will not be offended by your royal and noble

treatment of her. But let an ambassador be immediately dispatched from

your Court to inform her aged and pious father of the safety of his

daughter."

"The dictates of Macoma," answered the Sultan, bowing before her, "are

the dictates of virtue and humanity, and her will shall be religiously

obeyed."

At these words the genius vanished, and 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 Sultan and his Vizier

endeavoured to soothe and entertain the Princess of Cassimir; and

though Horam was desirous of hearing her adventures, yet the Sultan

would not suffer him to request Hemjunah's relation, till she was

carried to the palace, and refreshed after her fatigues.

The chief of the eunuchs arrived in a short time, and the Princess was

conveyed, ere morning, to the 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 meantime, having ordered the fakeer to be released

and sent out of the city, entered the divan with his Vizier, and,

having dispatched 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 seraglio.

The Princess descended from her throne at the approach of the Sultan,

and fell at his feet; but Misnar, taking her by the hand, said, "Rise,

Princess, and injure not your honour by thus abasing yourself before

your slave. The lovely Hemjunah has promised to relate her wonderful

adventures; and Horam, the faithful friend of my bosom, and our former

fellow-sufferer, is come to participate with me in the charming

relation."

"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.

Before 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 ourselves 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 the happiness 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 banished?"

"I have given sufficient reasons," replied my mother, "to engage your

compliance with your father's desire, and these will influence you, if

prudence and wisdom are the motives of your choice; and if you want

prudence, it is fit that those who are able to instruct you should

also guide and direct your actions."

At these words, Chederazade left me bathed in tears and trembling at

my fate.

My nurse Eloubrou was witness to the hard command my mother had

imposed upon me, and endeavoured to comfort me in my affliction; but

her words were as the wind on the surface of the rock; and to add to

my griefs, in a few minutes after, the chief of the eunuchs entered,

and bade me prepare to receive the Sultan my father.

The Sultan of Cassimir entering my apartment, I fell at his feet.

"Hemjunah," said he, "the Prince of Georgia is my friend, and I intend

to give my daughter to his arms."

Shocked at these successive declarations of my fate, which I had no

reason to suspect the day before, I fainted away, and when I

recovered, found myself on a sofa, with Eloubrou at my feet.

"My lovely Princess," said Eloubrou, "how little am I able to see you

thus! and yet I fear the news I have to impart to you may reduce you

to your former condition."

"Alas," said I, "nurse, what new evil has befallen me? What worse can

happen than my marriage with a stranger?"

"Princess," replied Eloubrou, "the Prince is to see you this night:

nay, the ceremonies are preparing, the changes of vestment, the

dessert, and the choral bands."

"Ah," said I, "cruel Eloubrou! what hast thou said? Am I to be

sacrificed this night to my father's policy? Am I to be given as a

fee to the plunderer of cities?--for such they are whose profession is

arms."

"No, Princess," said a young female slave who attended on Eloubrou;

"trust but to me, and the Prince of Georgia shall in vain seek the

honour of your alliance."

The faithful Eloubrou shrieked at the words of the female slave, and

endeavoured to clap her hands and bring the chief of the eunuchs to

her assistance; but the female slave waved her left hand, and Eloubrou

and the rest of the slaves stood motionless before her.

"Most lovely Princess," said she, "I am the friend of the distressed,

and love to prevent the severe and ill-natured authority of parents:

give me your hand, and I will deliver you from that monster, the

Prince of Georgia."

"What!" answered I, "shall I trust to a stranger, whom I know not, and

fly from my father's Court? No!"

"Well, then," said she, "I hear the cymbals playing before the Prince,

and the trumpets, and the kettledrums. Farewell, sweet mistress of the

fierce and unconquerable Prince of Georgia."

As she spoke, 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 female slave, and said,

"Save me, oh, 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 palace I know not, as I

immediately fainted; but when I recovered, I found myself in a

magnificent apartment, and a youth standing before me.

"Charming 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 love?"

"Alas!" said I, "what service hast thou performed? Who art thou, bold

man, that durst stand before the Princess of Cassimir? Eloubrou,"

shouted 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?"

"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, the merchant of Delhi; but, not to keep you in

suspense, O Princess! know that I have for several years traded from

Cassimir to Delhi, and, although I never saw you till lately, yet the

fame of your opening beauties was so great that it fired the hearts of

all the young men in your father's kingdom. Every time I arrived at

Cassimir, the subject of all conversation was the adorable Princess

Hemjunah. Impelled by these encomiums, I resolved to see you or die."

He then recounted how he had obtained access to me through the art of

Ulin.

The wicked Bennaskar would have made me the victim of his passions,

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."

"Then," said Bennaskar, who before was awed by the presence of the

genius Macoma, "Hemjunah is my own, and my faithful Ulin has not

deceived me."

At these words, exerting all his strength, the villain seized me; but

his triumph was short, for the genius, advancing, immediately touched

him with her wand, and said,

"Wretched slave of iniquity! though I am not permitted to rescue the

Princess, yet I have power over thee, base tool of sin! therefore I

ordain, that whenever you look upon the Princess, you shall deprive

her of sensation."

"Then," said Bennaskar, rising and turning from me, "I will at present

disappoint thy power till I receive my commands from the mouth of

Ulin, the mistress of my fate."

"Ah!" cried the enchantress Ulin, who that moment entered the vaulted

chamber from the closet, which, my Prince, you have heard described by

Mahoud, "what hast thou done, thou enemy of our race? Accursed and

fatal neglect, that I had not at first secured Bennaskar from thy

power! But since the inexorable word is gone forth, I will add to thy

sentence. Here," continued she, stamping with her foot, and an ugly

dwarf arose through a trap-door in the chamber, "Nego, be it thy

business to attend my servant Bennaskar, and whenever thou seest that

female deprived of sensation, do you bury her in the earth beneath

this chamber. And, Bennaskar," continued the enchantress, "do you take

this phial, and whenever you want to converse with this stubborn

female, let one of your slaves, whom you can trust, pour part of the

liquor into her mouth, and she shall recover: only retire yourself

into the closet, that you be not seen of her, at least till she

consent to your will, for then the enchantments of Macoma shall no

longer prevail against you."

"The enchantments," said Macoma, "O wretched Ulin, are not yet

complete! there is yet a moment left, and both our power over Hemjunah

and Bennaskar will be at an end. 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 shall Bennaskar 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 faithful and virtuous, he

will assuredly deliver you."

At these words, Bennaskar turned towards me, with anger and

disappointment in his eye, and immediately I was seized with a deep

sleep, and what passed afterwards I know not.

One day I found myself awakened by the pouring of some liquor into my

mouth, and saw a black slave standing before me. At the same time the

voice of Bennaskar issued from the closet.

"Ill-fated Princess! thy tyrant genius hath now hidden thee a month

from my sight, while thy friends, Ulin and Bennaskar, seek to restore

thee to light and to life: say but, therefore, thou wilt be mine, 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 hath so long hidden me from

the persecutions of Bennaskar."

"Haughty Princess!" answered the vile Bennaskar 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 needless, O Prince, to repeat the various designs of that

wretch. For three months was I thus confined, and Bennaskar having

exercised, through the hands of his slave, the cruelties of his heart,

used at length, when he found me persist in my resolution, to come

forth, and by his 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 narrative 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 Bennaskar."

I shrieked at his words, hoping the Cadi would hear me, but in vain.

Bennaskar ran with me through the vaulted passage, and found myself

with him in an extended plain.

"Wretch!" said the genius Macoma, who that moment appeared, "hast thou

dared to disobey my commands, and remove the Princess from the vaulted

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, "Thou art still the victim

of my power; and since Bennaskar is no more, go, sweet Princess, and

join thy delicate form to the form of thy preserver Mahoud, 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 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 Sultan Misnar, "I have felt

more anxiety during this short interval in which you have related your

adventures than in all the campaigns I have made. But suffer us, O

Princess, to add a further trouble to you by 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 wretched Bennaskar."

"The tale, O Prince," said the fair Hemjunah, "is wonderful; but,

alas! new indiscretions drew upon me the severities I have

experienced."

THE HISTORY OF THE PRINCESS CONTINUED.

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, I 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 it?" 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."

"Oh that thy royal mother," said Eloubrou, "were, like me, blessed

with the sight of thy return!"

"What," said I "Eloubrou, what dost thou say? Where, then, is the

much-honoured Chederazade? where the dear parent of my life?"

"Alas!" said Eloubrou, "who shall tell the dismal 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 spirit failed, and I sank motionless to the ground.

But my lord must forgive 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 rejoiced 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 poignant than my 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 inquires for thee; and the Grand Vizier,

understanding that he was instrumental in your release, waits without

to know your will."

At the name of Mahoud I started from my reverie. "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 mistress 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, Eloubrou; 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 my presumption in

approaching the throne of Cassimir, and that I have added hypocrisy to

my boldness, by assuming the title of a Prince."

"What, then," answered I, sternly, "has induced you to deceive my

Court?"

"Let death," said Mahoud, falling again before me, "let death atone

for my crime; but first permit me to explain the motives of my

presumption."

"Proceed," said I.

He then informed me that, after assuming his natural form, he visited

Delhi, where he was spurned by Misnar and Horam, and had been

compelled to beg his way to my dominions. A merchant of the city had

furnished him with the robes in which he appeared. 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 the 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 credit to

the falsehoods of Mahoud, for the insolent merchant got proud of his

newly-assumed honours. He came daily, and was introduced to me, and

every time assumed greater state; till at last he dared to declare his

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

reluctantly, muttering revenge as he went.

As soon as he was gone, I acquainted Eloubrou with Mahoud's story, his

ridiculous and insolent behaviour, and that he had even dared to

threaten me with revenge.

"The threats of Mahoud," said Eloubrou, "are of little consequence,

though prudence should never esteem the least enemy unworthy of its

notice; care shall, therefore, be taken of this insolent merchant."

While Eloubrou was giving the necessary instructions, 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 followed the guard to the tomb of Chederazade. 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

corpse of my mother.

"Unhappy Hemjunah," said the aged man, "come hither, and behold the

sad remains of my dearest Chederazade."

Although my heart sank with grief, and my limbs tottered, yet I went

to reach the place where 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, oh fearful sight! I perceived his visage alter, and that the

villanous Mahoud held me in his embrace.

Struck with horror and despair, I endeavoured to cry out, but in

vain--my voice was gone, 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 would join to deceive

others must expect to be deceived when there is none to help her;

therefore speech, if you resist, is taken from you."

"What," said I, "cruel Mahoud! is this the return my friendship

deserves, when, to save you from infamy and slavery, I gave way to

your entreaties, and represented you otherwise than you really were?"

"Friendship, O Princess," said he, "is built on virtue, which Mahoud

has disclaimed since he entered into the service of the sage

Hapacuson; and by her advice it was that he told you a false tale to

deceive you to your own destruction. Had you not yielded to that tale,

I could have had no power over you or your father; but it is our

triumph to circumvent the prudence of Mahomet's children; wherefore,

seeing you would not yield openly to my wishes, I had no sooner left

you with Eloubrou, than, by Hapacuson's assistance, I entered this

tomb invisibly, and, by my enchantments, overpowered your father

Zebenezer, and then, assuming his person, I sent for my Princess, and

she came obedient to my call. But, now," continued the false Mahoud,

"your cries will profit you but little; for Hapacuson, who is ever

hovering over Delhi, to watch the motions of the Sultan Misnar, has by

this time placed us in a repository of the dead, where we shall have

none to overhear or disturb us."

"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 love him, I must be content to

live in the tomb.

"He, by his enchantments, 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 pray for his deliverance from the chains of

enchantment."

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 desired 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 meantime, while the Sultan and his Vizier Horam endeavoured to

comfort the afflicted Hemjunah, the ambassadors returned from

Cassimir, bringing advice that the grand Vizier Hobaddan had assumed

the title of Sultan, and that the whole kingdom of Cassimir

acknowledged his authority.

At this report, Hemjunah sank 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.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "let us be prudent as well as just:

therefore, while you march to the assistance of the injured subjects

of Cassimir, and to restore that kingdom to its lawful Prince, I will

keep strict discipline and order in the provinces of my empire; and I

trust, in a short time, I shall see you return with the head of the

rebel Hobaddan."

The Vizier Horam set out in a few days from Delhi with three hundred

thousand troops of the flower of the Sultan's army, and by forced

marches reached the confines of Cassimir ere the pretended Sultan

Hobaddan had notice of his arrival.

The Vizier Horam's intention to restore the Princess Hemjunah to the

throne of her ancestors being proclaimed, numbers of the subjects of

Cassimir flocked to the standard of Horam; and the army, now increased

to five hundred thousand troops, marched forthwith toward the capital

of Cassimir.

Hobaddan, having notice of the increase and progress of his enemies,

and finding that to engage them upon equal terms was vain, sent an

embassy to the Vizier Horam, assuring him that he and his whole army

would surrender themselves up to the mercy and clemency of his

master's troops. Horam rejoiced at the success of his march; and

desirous of regaining the kingdom of Cassimir without bloodshed, sent

an assurance to Hobaddan in answer, that, if he fulfilled his promise,

his own life should be saved.

The next morning Hobaddan appeared in front of his troops, with their

heads dejected and their arms inverted toward the ground; and in this

manner they came forward to the Vizier Horam's army.

Horam, to encourage the submission of Hobaddan, had placed the forces,

which he had raised in the kingdom of Cassimir, in the van of his

army; and also to secure them from retreating, by the support which

his own troops were to give them in the rear.

When Hobaddan was within hearing, instead of throwing his arms on the

ground, he unsheathed his scimitar, and thus spake to the troops

before him:

"Brethren and countrymen, suffer me to speak what my affection to you

all, and my love for my country, requires me to say. Against whom, O

my brethren, is this array of battle? and whose blood seek ye to spill

on the plains which our forefathers have cultivated? Is it our own

blood that must be poured forth over these lands to enrich them for a

stranger's benefit? Is it not under pretence of fighting for the

Princess of Cassimir, who has been long since dead, that the Sultan of

India's troops are now ravaging, not on our borders only, but

penetrating even into the heart of our nation? But suppose ye that the

conquerors will give up the treasures they hope to earn by their

blood? Will they not rather, invited by the fruitfulness of our vales,

and by the rich produce of our mountains, fix here the standard of

their arms, and make slaves of us, who are become thus easily the

dupes of their ambitious pretences? Then, farewell content! farewell

pleasure! farewell the well-earned fruits of industry and frugality!

Our lands shall be the property of others, and we still tied down by

slavish chains to cultivate and improve them. Our houses, our

substance, shall be the reward of foreign robbers; our wives and our

virgins shall bow down before conquerors; and we, like the beasts of

the field, shall be drawn in the scorching midday to the furrow or the

mine."

As Hobaddan began to utter these words, Horam, astonished at his

malice and presumption, ordered the archers who attended him to draw

forth their arrows, and pierce him to the heart; but the weapons of

war were as straws on the armour of Hobaddan, and he stood dauntless

and unhurt amidst ten thousand arrows.

"Friends and brethren!" continued Hobaddan, "you see the powers above

are on our side; the arrows of Horam are as chaff on the plain, and as

the dust which penetrates not the garments of the traveller. Halt not,

therefore, but join your arms to the defender and supporter of your

liberties and your possessions."

At these words the recruits of Horam filed off in a body and joined

the party of Hobaddan; while the pretended Sultan, elated at his

success, pushed forward to the Vizier Horam's troops, and charged them

with the utmost impetuosity.

The weapons of the brave were foiled by the armour of Hobaddan; for

the enchantress Hapacuson, studious of diverting the attention of the

Sultan Misnar, had assisted Hobaddan with her counsel and with

invulnerable arms; wherefore, seeing their labour vain and fruitless

against the pretended and unconquerable Sultan, the hearts of Horam's

warriors melted within them, and they fell away from the field of

battle; and Hobaddan, sensible of his advantage, hastened after the

troops of Horam all the day and night; and the Vizier himself barely

escaped with his life, having none left behind him to send to Delhi

with the unhappy report of his defeat.

But malicious Fame, ever indefatigable in representing the horrors of

affliction and distress, soon spread her voice throughout the regions

of Delhi; and Misnar heard from every quarter, that his faithful Horam

and all his chosen troops were defeated or cut off by the victorious

arm of Hobaddan. The Princess Hemjunah gave up herself to sighs and

tears, and refused the consolation of the Court of Delhi; and the

Sultan Misnar, enraged at his loss, resolved to assemble the greatest

part of his troops, and march to the assistance of Horam.

But first he gave orders that recruits should be raised, and that the

number of his troops should be increased; and then, mixing his young

raised soldiers with the veterans of his army, he left one half of his

troops to guard his own provinces, and with the other he marched

towards the confines of Cassimir.

The Vizier Horam had concealed himself in the hut of a faithful

peasant, and hearing that his master had arrived with a numerous army

in the kingdom of Cassimir, he went forward to meet him, and, falling

down at his feet, besought his forgiveness.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "arise. I forgive thee, although thou hast

lost so many of my troops; but I little suspected Hobaddan had been

too artful for the experience and sagacity of my Vizier. However,

Horam, he must not expect to deceive us again: we are more in number,

and we are aware of his deceit. You, Horam, forced your marches and

weakened your troops, but I will bring them on slowly and surely. Have

we prevailed against Ulin, and Happuck, and Ollomand, and Tasnar--have

we crushed Ahaback and Desra by our prudent arts--and shall we fear

the contrivance of a poor Vizier, who leads a few rebels among the

rocks of the province of Cassimir? Let us but use prudence with

resolution, and these enemies must soon fade away like the shadow that

flieth from the noontide sun."

The 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 strictest discipline among them, and acted as if they

were about to engage a superior force.

For some time the armies continued within sight of each other, neither

choosing to engage without some superiority of circumstances, and both

watchful 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, commanding

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

engagement), totally defeated those who were sent to oppose him. The

troops to the right of the Sultan's army, giving way, put all in

confusion; and the unwieldy number of Misnar's forces, instead of

regularly supporting them, poured toward the right in such tumult as

destroyed the whole disposition of the army.

During this confusion, Hobaddan hewed down on all sides those who

dared oppose his arms; and his chosen troop followed him over heaps of

the slain, every one flying through fear at his presence.

The Sultan and his Vizier Horam, finding it in vain to rally their

troops or oppose the conquerors, sounded a retreat, and, amidst the

general confusion, fled toward the sandy deserts which divide the

realms of Cassimir from the province of Delhi.

But the prudent Sultan, in his flight, endeavoured to restore to his

troops their rank and order; and while Horam reduced the foot under

their proper banners, Misnar regulated the confusion of the horse, and

placed them as a covering to the rest of his forces.

In this manner they marched before the face of their enemies into the

desert, without any provision or forage but what they carried with

their accoutrements; and although the Sultan and his Vizier used every

argument to persuade their troops (who still exceeded the number of

their enemies) to turn and pursue the army of Hobaddan, yet so great

was their dread of the victorious rebel and his forces, that they

threatened to throw down their arms rather than return to the battle.

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 certain destruction.

After two days' march, they halted beside several 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 waters of

the desert. These, indeed, thought of little more than present relief;

but Misnar, their lord, was overwhelmed with the severest pangs of

distress.

To increase their grief, scouts brought word that the troops of

Hobaddan, being refreshed after their fatigues, were marching towards

them, intending to destroy them while they were faint from want of

provision. The army of the Sultan, terrified by the report, and seeing

no hope of escape, fell upon the wretched Sultan and his faithful

Vizier, and bringing them into the centre of the troops, demanded

their blood as an atonement for the losses they were about to suffer

in their cause.

The ringleader of this general mutiny was Ourodi, the 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 commended his cause to the all-powerful

Allah.

[Illustration]

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 female 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 she, "arise, and fear not those sons of clay, nor the

malice of enchantment: I am the genius Macoma, sent by Mahomet to save

and deliver thee when human assistance was vain and impossible.

Therefore assume thy just command over these thy subjects, and let

them all fall prostrate on the ground to Allah, and wait to see the

fate of those who fight against the Prophet of the Faithful. But first

learn, from thine own experience, the folly of trusting even to the

greatest human power or prudence, without an affiance in the Lord of

Heaven. The world, O Misnar, is Allah's, and the kingdom of heaven is

the work of His hands; let not, therefore, the proudest boast, nor the

most humble despair; for, although the towering mountains appear most

glorious to the sight, the lowly valleys enjoy the fatness of the

skies. But Allah is able to clothe the summit of the rocks with

verdure, and dry up even the rivers of the vale. Wherefore, although

thou wert suffered to destroy the greatest part of thine enemies, yet

one was left to overpower thee, that thou mightest know that thou wert

but a weak instrument in the hands of strength."

"I know," answered the Sultan Misnar, "that Allah 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 thus; the army of Hobaddan appeared on the face of

the sandy desert.

"Although His power be infinite," said the genius, "yet can He effect

these changes by the most unexpected means. But I will not waste that

time in words which I am commanded to employ in action, to convince

both you and your army of the sovereignty of Allah. Therefore suffer

no man to rise from the earth or to quit his place; but lift up your

heads only, and behold those enemies destroyed before whom you fled."

So saying, the genius Macoma 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, and they looked toward the army of Hobaddan, and saw them

overwhelmed with innumerable locusts.

"Thine enemies," said Macoma, "O Sultan, are no more, save the

enchantress Hapacuson, who 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

Horam would esteem himself the happiest of mankind in her

destruction."

"The glory you speak of," answered the genius Macoma, "is given to

another: a fly has gone forth, the winged messenger of Allah's wrath,

and at this moment bereaves the vile Hapacuson of her breath and of

her life."

The 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.