That pleasure,' replied the merchant, I believe, proceeds from sympathy: it is scarcely possible, unless you have some peculiar cause of misery, not to be pleased when you see every thing around you happy. On the contrary, if you go into the mansions of sorrow, it will be impossible to withstand the infection of it.. The God of nature seems to have given us these sympathetic feelings, to link our affections in the great chain of society: hence social virtue is not left to depend solely on the moral will, but is founded on the principles of our nature.

But the object of your adoration is so profuse of his favours, that I should now be glad to find some convenient shed. I think I discover a cave on the southern declivity of the mountain: let us retire to it during the heat of the day.'

As they were advancing towards the cave, they perceived a beaten path leading directly from it to a distant rivulet: this made them apprehensive that it might be the habitation of some wild beast, that had worn the path by constantly going to drink at the stream: but their fears were soon removed upon the appearance of an aged hermit, advancing slowly towards the rivulet with an earthen pitcher. At sight of the travellers, he hasted to his abode with all the feeble precipitancy of age: they agreed not to disturb him, and only took the advantage of the rock which projected over his cell, to sheiter themselves from the sun; but they had not long continued in this situation, before the hermit perceiving them to be inoffensive travellers, invited them into his cave.

'You will excuse,' said the hoary sage, 'the caution of years: these mountains are not secure from the ravage of human ferocity; and these grey hairs would be no defence from the wanton cruelty of man. I have suffered so much from my own species, that I have at last forsaken their society: I have thought it better to give up the conveniencies of it, than to bear the evils; and I have long lived in this solitary cave, on nothing more than what uncultivated nature would afford me.'' Those sufferings,' said Solyman, must, indeed, have been extraordinary, that could make you give up one of the greatest advantages of life, the social intercourse of your fellow-creatures.' The narratives of age,' replied the hermit, dom agreeable to youth; but as instruction can be gained only from experience, you will do wisely to learn it from the misfortunes of Abbas.

are sel

I was born to a competent fortune in the province of Lurestan: but being early left an orphan, my affairs came under the cognizance of a justiciary court, which the members of it call the court of equity; but so equitable were they with regard to me, that they claimed two parts of my little fortune for their care of the third. Would to God, that were never the case in Great Britain!' interrupted the merchant.-'But proceed.'--Though I had such an early and convincing proof of the treachery and rapacity of mankind; yet as I had always exercised the benevolent virtues myself, I could not think others totally devoid of them; and at my three and twentieth year, being inclined to travel, I without scruple entrusted the remains of my fortune with a person whom I had long known and respected; a person, Holy Allah! who lifted his hands to thee; but I had not been absent from Lurestan more than three months, when he pretended a commission to dispose of my effects, and immediately left the place....Upon my return therefore to the province, I found neither friend nor fortune; and being bred to no business, I was reduced to the most distressful state of indigence. I applied, however, not without hopes of redress or relief, to a person of power and eminence, whom I had often

heard speak of his friendship with my father. After long and frequent attendance, I was admitted to an interview. I laid open my distress to him with that kind of eloquence which the miseries we suffer from the treachery of others always suggests; and which, however unaffecting it may be to indifferent persons, utters its complaints with dignity and resentment. I was heard half way through my story, and dismissed with the following reply.'" It is not necessary, young man to proceed with your complaints: I perceive you have been abused, and I am sorry for you. But that shall not be the only proof of my regard for you; I will give you a little advice: you should never depend so much on the benevolence or integrity of any human being, as to trust him with your fortune or your life." Thus ended my hopes from the friend of my father; whose benevolence extended no farther than to instruct me how to secure the fortune that was stolen, and to preserve the life which I wished to lose.

'I had now no choice, but to enter as a common soldier, into the army of the Sophi. I had always delighted in martial exercises, and was expert in the use of arms; my dexterity and address drew upon me the attention of my officers; and, in a short time, I obtained a small commission. I had now almost forgot my miseries, and embraced my new situation with cheerfulness and hope; but fortune, who had for a while ceased to persecute me as below her notice, as if she had been indignant at my satisfaction, and jealous of my prospects, now renewed and redoubled her severity.

My commanding officer had a daughter of extraordinary beauty, and an uncommon capacity. Zara was the object of universal admiration but she had set her heart on the unfortunate Abbas. The first moment Í beheld her, I discovered in her looks the most tender and affectionate regard for me, which I imputed to her compassion for my misfortunes; though at the same time I wished, without knowing why, that it might proceed from another cause. She asked me for the story of my life: I told it in the plainest and most pathetic manner; yet when I had finished; she desired me to repeat it. From this moment I had done with peace; her infectious tenderness had such an influence upon my heart, that I 'could think of nothing but Zara; without Zara I was miserable. A thousand times did I flatter myself, that there was something more than mere compassion in her look and manner; and not many days had passed before I was convinced of the dear fatal truth from this letter:

"TO ABBAS.

"Your merit and your sufferings have a claim to something more than compassion to espouse the cause of Abbas, is to discharge a duty which virtue cannot dispense with. Meet me on the parade this evening, and you shall know more of the sentiments of

ZARA."

The emotions I felt on the receipt of this letter, can only be conceived by those who, in the midst of despairing love, have beheld a gleam of hope. The tumúlt of my heart hurried me to the place appointed, long before the time: I walked backward and forward in the utmost confusion, totally regardless of every object about me; sometimes raising my hands and eyes in the sudden effusions of transport, and sometimes smiling with the complacency of delight.

She.

At length the day departed, and Zara came. My heart bounded at the sight: I was unable to speak, and threw myself at her feet. was alarmed at my excessive earnestness and confusion; but commanding me to rise," Abbas," said she, "if your confusion proceeds from your modest gratitude, restrain it, till you find whether I am able to serve you; if it arise from any other cause, I must leave you this moment."... I entreated she would tell me to what I was indebted for the happiness of this interview, and I would be calm and attentive. "My regard for your merit and my compassion for your sufferings," said she," make me wish to serve you. Tell me, Abbas, can I assist you through the interest of my father?" I faltered out my acknowledgements; telling her, that to her I must owe all my hopes of future happiness.

She left me immediately without reply. The singularity of my behaviour on the parade before the coming of Zara, had drawn upon me the attention of an officer who was secretly her admirer, and who, either through curiosity or suspicion, though unobserved by me, had waited' at a convenient distance to watch my motions. No sooner did he perceive the approach of Zara, than, as well to gratify his revenge, as to ingratiate himself with her father, he immediately told him of our interview.

Zara, ignorant of what had passed, with her usual freedom and goodnature, began to express her compassion for the misfortunes of Abbas, talked of his merits, and wished to see him preferred. The old general, who was naturally jealous and impetuous, exclaimed, with a burst of indignation, "Yes, I shall prefer him!" Early the next morning, he sent me my discharge; and while I was gazing in stupid astonishment upon my general's letter, a youth, masked, brought me a small casket, with a letter from Zara, which, to the best of my remembrance was as follows:

"TO ABBAS.

By some unlucky circumstance, which I do not now understand, instead of promoting you, I have been the cause of your dismission. The bearer, who brings you a small casket of jewels for your support, has my commands to conduct you the shortest way over the mountains: follow him immediately, lest the rage of jealousy meditate new persecutions. He wears a mask, that he may not be taken notice of as one of the general's domestics: his attachment to me will make him faithful to you. Time may bring about happier events, Adieu! Adieu!

ZARA."

In the anguish and confusion of my heart, I followed my guide, without knowing whither he was leading me, or what I was about to do. I vented my grief in broken ejaculations, frequently calling upon the name of Zara, but not once addressing myself to my attendant. By the evening of the second day, we had advanced forty miles southward of the province of Lurestan; when, how shall I relate the last horrid scene my miseries!--Pardon me !-these aged eyes have yet a tear left, yet a tear for the memory of Zara!-we were attacked by a band of robbers. My guide was Zara! in her fright she threw off her mask, and cried, "Zara!" Love, rage, fear, and vengeance, gave me supernatural strength three of the villains fell by my sabre; a fourth disarmed me; and the rest of the gang carried off Zara.'

of

At this crisis of his story, the spirits of the aged hermit were exhausted by their own violence; and it was some time before he could proceed.

You have now,' continued he, heard the completion of my misfortunes. When I was recovered of the wounds I had received, I spent some months in a fruitless search of Zara; at last, despairing to gain any intelligence of her, I transmitted an account of the affair to her father; not without hope, that his power or his wealth, might be a means of finding her out, and redeeming her but I was deceived; and had soon the mortification to hear, that the unnatural wretch exulted in our misfortunes, and uttered the most dreadful imprecations on his only child.

Deprived of hope, and dejected with melancholy, I could no longer bear the society of mankind: I therefore betook myself to these solitary mountains, where this cell has been my habitation for years that have passed away in unvaried sorrow; and where you are the first of human beings that have heard me tell my tale.'

Solyman expatiated on the sufferings of Abbas with the most tender sensibility, and inveighed against the baseness of mankind, with all the rage of honest resentment. Surely,' said he to the merchant, man is the vilest of all creatures! In proportion as he excels them in reason, he exceeds them in the ability to do mischief; and being equally cruel, the mischief he does renders him the more detestable. Sacred Mithra! why dost thou lend thy light to the villain and the tyrant? Were it not for the enjoyment of your company, my friend, I should have few inducements to go further from the valley of Irwan; for possibly to see more of human life, is only to know more of its crimes and miseries.'

From the complicated distresses of one person,' replied the merchant, 'you draw a partial image of the life of man. But the day declines : let us hasten over these mountains, that we may repose at night in some village of the valley.'

ANECDOTE OF SIR H. ELWES.
(Of miserable memory.)

him a whim

A circumstance happened to him one evening, which gave sical opportunity of displaying a disregard of his own person, rather than part with a single shilling, though possessing an immense fortune.

One very dark night, hurrying along, he went with such violence against the pole of a sedan chair, which he did not see, that he cut both his legs very deeply. As usual, he thought of no assistance; but Colonel Timms, at whose house he then was, in Orchard-street, insisted upon one being sent for. Old Elwes at length submitted, and a surgeon was called in, who immediately began to expatiate on "the bad consequences of breaking the skin-the good fortune of his being sent for-and the peculiar bad appearances of Mr. Elwes's wound."" Very probable," said old Elwes, "but Mr. I have one thing to say to you---in my opinion my legs are not much hurt; now you think they are---so I will make this agreement: I will take one leg and you shall take the other; you shall do what you please with your's, and I will do nothing to mine; and and I will wager your bill that my leg gets well the first."---He has frequently been heard to mention, with great triumph, that he beat the surgeon by a fortnight!

THE

SOLITARY FAMILY OF NORMANDY.

From the Tales of the Castle.

A

Few leagues from Forges, which is about twenty-six leagues from Paris, in the province of Normandy, and in the neighbourhood of the rich Abbey of Bobec, lived Anselmo, with his wife and children, cultivating their little farm. He was far from rich; but truly happy; insomuch that except to church, he seldom stirred from home. He had no neighbours, and he wished for none......his peaceful habitation stood alone in the midst of a forest.......and honest Anselmo, knew no higher enjoyment, than his own little family, after the fatigues of the day.

A wife and five children, a servant maid, and an herdsman, made up his houshold; and three acres of land, two cows, and a little poultry were his riches.

The maid's name was Jacquelina. Bred in the house of Anselmo, she had imbibed the manners, and recluse habits of his family......She had heard of Forges, but four leagues was a great journey; and the little church of Bobec, was a sight of as great surprise to Jacquelina, as the Colonade of the Louvre or St. Peter's at Rome to most travellers. She never saw a book in her life but at church; and making good cheese, and milking the cows, were her principal qualifications.

It may be easily divined, that Jacquelina's mind was not capable of any extensive knowledge; indeed had not her rulers been possessed of a competent share of humanity and patience, she would oftener than once have lost her place; yet her faults were involuntary, she meant well; and although she frequently shewed much want of memory and reflection, yet her intentions were so upright, that Anselmo and his wife could not even scold her.

Michael, the cow keeper was patient, peaceable, and honest, and so easy tempered, that it was impossible to make him angry. He was however, still more indolent and ignorant than Jacquelina, but the indulgent Anselmo found excuses for all his defects.

The similarity of disposition and manners, between Jacquelina and Michael, their long acquaintance with each other, and total ignorance of all mankind besides,would have made it miraculous, had not an attachment to each other taken place......The lovers were married, and in four years time, were the parents of four children whom Anselmo brought up with his own.