66 My lord," replied the page, "I have somewhere seen woman's pure and undivided love compared to the priceless Mogul diamond. Power, grandeur, wealth may be acquired by ceaseless importunities at the shrine of fortune, but not such a jewel as it, or flawless love. I have often dreamed that were I even as noble and great as your highness, I would gladly forego everything on earth before the affections of her who loved me dearly.” "So, so you dream," answered Mahommed disconsolately after a pause, letting his eyes at the same time fall upon his companion, as if to sift the sincerity of his enthusiasm. "I once dreamt so; but as such devoted love in woman is seldom, if ever to be met with, so is a perfect divestment of all selfishness on our part not to be respected. When the mind has long been pamperedwhen it has been wont to exact, and know no refusalreceiving to each of its loftiest wishes an over ready sacrifice-love must indeed be irresistible that can in such circumstances make a perfect convert-and yet, though rarely, it is sometimes so. Yes, it is my destiny to perish by such love!" And as he spoke these words, he struggled against the violence of his feelings. Astonished as was his companion at being so unexpectedly made the confidant of so extraordinary a disclosure, fear and etiquette alike forbade him to make any observation; accordingly with his hands crossed upon his breast, and downcast eyes, he remained perfectly silent. The delicacy of the motive did not escape Mahommed's shrewd observance, who having regained possession of his customary composure resumed as follows: 66 My son, you have been witness of your master's weakness, and perchance rashly entrusted by him, with what he ought never to have divulged. As you value his friendship and your life, beware how you breathe to human being, that the son of Aurungzebe can be so worked upon by woman !" "Your word," replied Alraschid bowing his head, "is law; and the life of your slave is ever in your hands." A long pause succeeded, the Prince was wrapt in contemplation, and although his eyes were fixed on the river which now glanced partially in the palid moonbeams, now skulked gloomily along beneath its high cowering banks, his thoughts were evidently elsewhere. The page knew better the mood of his master than to interrupt him, and awaited patiently his pleasure to renew the conversation. "Son of Ajimut," said he at length, "were I to go again to the wars, would you choose to follow me?" Alraschid was too surprised at this strange speech to answer on the moment; after gaping shortly in the Prince's face, he answered: "As long as life and limb afforded, my lord, I would follow you. May I ask if my master questions the fealty of his servant?" 66 Supposing," continued Mahommed without answering him, "I were to raise an army-restore my ill-used grandfather, and shut up my father in this costly dungeon, would your duty and affection still prompt you to follow me?"" The agitated features, faultering lips, and throbbing bosom of the page conveyed the sentiments, which he for awhile feared to express. "Your Highness," said he flurridly, "would do me greater justice if you contemned or banished me, rather than required my attendance in such circumstances; for the oath of eternal allegiance to your father, which I took on entering this fort, would make me court death, and your frown sooner than dishonour.' "In short," interrupted the Prince, "you would if it were in your power, turn your back upon your patronupon your master, who found you seated in the bazaar a miserable account-keeper of a miserly uncle, and who has honored you by his friendship and confidence-is such conduct generous?" "Oh my benefactor!" exclaimed the boy throwing himself on his knees, whilst the tears gushed plentifully from his eyes, "if I have in word or thought offended, punish me, discard me-I am not ungrateful-can I not, must I not for ever feel your unmerited kindness? the condescension and friendship you have shown one so unworthy? It is my anxiety to show I do appreciate, and am not wholly unworthy of your favour, that makes me refuse, even at your solicitation, to do what impugns my honour. My lord, if I could spurn an oath, I could deceive you; and believe me, I am alike incapable of either." Mahommed sat for some time regarding his protége with a look more of compassion than disappointment. "Get thee to thy feet, foolish lad," said he, "and dry your eyes; I have made essay of thy virtue, and as usual found it unassailable. Let not, however, thy memory be so treacherous as to recount to any one the means I have chosen for proving it; and moreover, hold thyself prepared by to-morrow evening to set out for Ougien." If the page's grief had been poignant at what had already passed, it was now quite ungovernable. He had offended a kind, beloved friend, even to being dismissed his service, and again casting himself on the ground, he sobbed so bitterly as to prevent his speaking. "Come, come," cried the Prince, "there is too much childishness in this. Believe me, nothing is done from anger, but affection, nor shall you ever receive injury from Mahommed. What you sillily conceive a dismissal, is but a confidential mission. I know of no person so trust-worthy as yourself, and you will now have an opportunity of seeing those dear parents for which I have heard so many of your longings."-Never did cloud roll more rapidly across the moon, than changed Alraschid's countenance, and he poured forth a string of incoherent thanks and exclamations, none of which we hold worthy of being engrossed in this dignified narrative. Leaving him therefore to the enjoyment of so joyous a journey, we will turn our attention to other personages. CHAPTER III. "Know ye not How your state stands i' th' world, with the whole world ? The justice and the truth o' th' question carries K. HENRY VIII. NEARLY fronting Selim's majestic mansion, and on the opposite side of the river, stood a small mosque, and near it a single cottage, shadowed by a solitary banian tree. This little mosque, though of superior workmanship, was after the fashion of most others. A simple cupola of oriental shape stood supported by an octagonal substructure, composed of ashler stone, and relieved by eight small latticed windows, each of which was elegantly and fancifully chiselled out of a single slab. In the centre of the floor fronting the door, was the tomb of some canonized moslem, covered with a green sheet, and on which were strewn white and yellow flowers, the pious attention of an officiating priest, who possessed the adjoining cottage. The roof of the building inside was delicately carved, the cornice ornaments being koran texts in Arabian characters, intertwined in tasteful regularity. But these were considerably blackened by the fumes of a lamp which was kept constantly burning. Close to the mosque was a flat stucco terrace or cheboutra, with a high wall on the side towards Mecca, decorated by three pretty though small minarets; this was the place in which the priest's little flock were wont to prefer their daily orisons. The cottage was nothing but a thatched mud tenement of the rudest kind, before which was stuck a long bamboo, with a piece of red cloth as a streamer to allure passengers to prayer and meditation. Shaik Ibrahim was the name of the humble ecclesiastic who presided over this unassuming establishment ;-a man truly excellent. Unfeigned piety had acquired for him extensive reputation, and his advice and opinion were frequently solicited by persons of all grades. His precepts of morality were illustrated by his practice, and albeit poor, that poverty proceeded entirely from his despising worldly wealth; valuable presents, though often offered he would seldom receive, and if he did, he always again bestowed them where they were better applied. A little rice, butter, water, sugar, and tobacco, constituted the sum total of Ibrahim's luxuries. Yet had this devotee more authority over the sons of Islamism, in Ougien, and its neighbourhood, than the most opulent of his sacerdotal brethren; his great wisdom, benevolence, philanthropy, and general blamelessness of life had even gained respect from the learned Brahmins and inferior Hindoos-of which classes there was a large propor tion in that most ancient city. In person, the Shaik was tall, spare, yet upright; his bushy beard and mustachios were partly white, and he wore his beard after a certain pointed manner, to designate himself as one that had performed a pilgrimage to the Caaba. Such was Ibrahim, whose wisdom was courted by the poor and great, and which gained him respect even from Selim, who had never seen him. He was now seated on a small mound of carefully smoothed clay, which was raised around the trunk of the banian tree, and near him reclined another personage whose steed, a strong one of that breed, from the northern provinces of the empire, was secured to the bared roots which entwined themselves fantastically around the parent stem. This companion of Ibrahim appeared by his plain and partially soiled dress, scarcely to belong to any class above the menial or certainly not at most to one above that of a petty bunian or tradesman, though a |