Haflan, now protected by the laws of hofpitality, fheathed his fcymetar, while his hoft put on the table two small loaves, fome grapes, and a veffel of the amber wine of Shiraz. "Eat and refresh yourfelf," fays Dahir (the owner of the cave) "I have fupped already, and cannot eat with you, being about to depart for Shiraz, where I go twice or thrice in a week to renew my stock of provifion-I always travel by night for fear of discovery; but as you are now as much in my power as I at first was in yours, let mutual confidence fucceed to mutual fears.'

H. As I am in

your power, and promise you fidelity, I may ask an explanation of appearances which at present puzzle me.

D. Those coffers and bags you fee are all full of coined gold from our early emperors to Schah Abbas-the accumulation of five generations! They are here de

pofited

pofited as in a place of safety against the rapacity of the Khan of Schiraz or his Minifters.

H. They are, perhaps, in fafety, but are of no ufe-if your coffers contained only earth, it would be of equal value to riches not used.

D. The value of a thing is in proportion to the happiness it bestows. If my coffers were only full of earth they would give me no pleasure, but I receive much from reflecting that they are full of gold.

H. How you can receive any when your money is not beftowed, is past my conception. Pleasure may be purchased -as I know to my coft:

D. To your coft? Then I fuppofe your plan was spending your money-has it led you to happiness?

H.

H. I cannot fay it has-my mifery is

extreme!

D. Very well; now, mark the difference between us. I have pleasure in furveying my chefts-I count them-I fometimes regale my eyes by looking at my money—after which I lock it up, and reflect, that the means of procuring every thing are in my power-but if I part with my gold, I then lofe the means and the pleasure of the reflection.

H. But do you never intend to use your money?

D. I at prefent ufe it to the best of purposes to give me happinefs; but if I spent it, I fhould have none. How can you be fo obftinate to continue a difpute, when you confefs that a conduct contrary to mine has led you to mifery?

1

Haffan was filent, but not convinced; fo deep had the common opinion of the ufe of riches funk within his mind

"But, pray," fays he, " may not happiness be found in fomething between both our systems?"

"I do not want," replied Dahir, "to confine happiness in one path: all I contend for is, that I feel it myselfyou certainly are at liberty to feek happiness wherever it may be found. But what can I do with you? Here you cannot stay, and if you go you will difcover my treasure-fwear to me by the head of the prophet, that you will come here no more, and I will take the fame oath to fend you a camel-load of my gold -it is better to part with fome than lose the whole.

The mutual oath was fworn, and at day-break Haffan returned to the city.

The

The gold was fent according to promife, together with a roll of perfumed paper, beautifully embellished, on which was written in elegant characters—

"Haffan, oppofe not thy particular opinion to the general system of the most high! Various are the fituations in life, and all concur to fulfill the decrees of eternal wisdom. The ufe of accumulation is to repair the waste of prodigality."