Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-04


duced into his apartment venerable man, whose
white hair, long flowing beard. and wan and melan-
choly but highly intellectual features, failed not TO
arrest the attention and command the respect of all
who bcheld hun. His garments We're plain and sim
ple even 10 ccarsencss, but no proihsedy deco
rated with jewels, apparently OF considerable value,
and he bore long white wand in his hand. 81 have
length, oh king" said the minister 'net with the
famous Achmct Nissan, who processes, that if it be
IN the power of any mortal to procure the gratica-
tion of your highncSss wishes, that power resides in
! him"
LET him enter" said the Shah The minister
made obeisance introduced the sage and retired.
| "Old man." said Abbas Shah. ''thou knowest
wherefore have sought thee, and what have de-
sired of thcC?"
prince" said Achmct "thou womldst SEQ the
hour, the queen of thy bower OF paradise; he. who
in preference to all the other darkeyed daughters
heavcn will greet thee there, and shall be thy chosen
companion in those bIssfhl regions."
| Thou sayest it." said the Shah. "Can thy boas-
ted art procure me sight, be it even ransitory as
the lghtnings flash of that heavenly beiug:"
| "kIng of Iraun," said the sage, 'thc heavenly
houris are of two different natures They are, FOR
the most part, of peculiar creation, formed inha
bit those bowers; but few siness and beautiful
virgins, natives of this lower world who after death
are endowed with tenfold charms, which surpass even
those Of the native daughters of paradise IF thy
immortal bride be OF the former nature she is beyond
the reach of my art hut if she be of the latter and
have not vet quilted our world, can call her spirit
before thee, and thine eyes may be gratifed by ga
Zlng upon IL VIII De only Tor
transitory, thou hast said, the hghinngs fash"
Try, then, thy potent art, said the prince. Thou
hast wound up my sirit to pitch of intense de
sirc Let me gaze upon her. If 1t be but for an n-
slant"
''F-ince,' said the sage, fixing his dark. BRIGHT.
eye upon the Shah, hope not to possess her upon
earth Any attempt at discovering her abode, or
making her thy own, will be disastrous to YOU both.
Promise Ie that chou wilt not think Of any such en-
terprse.'
Il promise thee any th,ng-evcry thing. But
haste thee, good Achmcti haste thee; for my heart
is full TO OVERCOMING"
The sage then with his wand described n circle
round the prince, within which he placed several box.
es OF hankncense and o'her precious spices and az
rewards knded them. A light thin cloud of tho
most Odious fragrance began TO dse itself over the
apartment. Achmet bowed his head to the ground
repeatedly during this ceremony, and waved his wand
utterlng many sounds in language with which the
Shah was 'nocquaintcd At length, as the cloud be-
gan to grow rather dense the old man drew himself
up to his utmost height leaned his right hand on hs
wand, which he rested on the floor, and in n low So
Tenn tone uttered ncantation which seemed To be
. metrchl composition, but was in the same unknown
language 1t lasted several minutes and while the
old man WAS pronOuncing it, the cloud, which was
spread over the whole apartment, seemed gradually
gathering together and forming a condensed BODY
An unnatural nut very brilliant light pervadcd he
chamber, and the cloud was revolving itself into
the resemblance of human shape, until at length
the prince saw, fancled that nc saw, beautiful
female figure standing before him. Ills own sur
prise was not grcdtcr thhU tlt oil the Old who
gazed upon the phantom ne bad raised and treInbled
as he gazcd 1t appeared TO be young female a.
bOnt fifteen years Of age. She toll and her form
exhibited the most wonderful symmetry. Her ewes
were large, bright and black. Her complexion was
though ~ had borrowed the combined hues Of the
ruby and pearl, being Of exquisite white and red
Her lips and her teeth each exhibited one Of these co
ors IN perfection, and her long dark hair was crown
ed with flowers, and flowed i'm glossy ringets down
TO her waist. She dressed in long flowing robe
Of dazzling whitcness: she neither moved nor spoke
Only once the prince thought that she smiled upon
him. aud then the figure instantly vanished the pre-
teriatura light left the apartment, and mild moon
beams again streamsd through the open atfccs.
Before the exclamation Of Joy which formed in
Tie prince bosom could reach his lips it was chan
ged into yell Of disappointment. "Old man," he
said, thou tifiest with mc-tliuu hast presented this
vision to my eyes only THAI thou mgGt'st Withdrew it
immediately. Call back that lovely form, OF, by Ma
hoincL thou shalt exchange tiny head for the privilege
which thou hast chosen 10 exercise Of tormcnting
Abbas Seim."
rs II tis Oh king" sara Acl.ir-. .iifai tlou rq-
wardest the efforts made by thy faithful subject 10
fulfil thy wishes> have tasked my art TO It's utmost
eXtcn 10 call back that vision or 20 present IL agoi
10 thine eyes, IS beyond iny skill"
"But she 9cs--sho brcatbos--shc g an inhabilan,
Of this word." said The prince.
Even 80, 5" returned the other.
Then I'D scour all Iraun, ~. despatch emissarics
al over The world, that wherever enc be- she may be-
brought hilhcr to I'll up the vacuum in my heart and
TO share the throne of Abbas SciB!''
"The instant said Achmet, "tlIat your highnoss's
eyes meet hers, her fate is scaled. She vill not
long remain an niabtont Of this world. +; is writ
ton in the Book of Fate that she shell not be the
bride Of mortal man"
"Death, trai'or' said tho monarcl; can not the
ShaIR who shall gaiDgay NJ wilE-what slull OPP
possit2"
"Tho VIII Of IIcnvon" replied tlc sage calmly
"The irrcvocable DEGREES Of destiny"
away! oyaunu tlou div ing IDIOT said Selim,
''let me not soc thee morc,"
The Sh1L's maladios, both mental and bodily in
creased alarningy a0cr This event. The lovely
phantom b1nuied him Sleeping ard wskng.-IIe
lost all appetite AID strength. and nppoarcdto be fast
sinking into the grave. At length he bcthought
HIMSELF that IL b. could from memory sketch The
features which be bchcl, iio might possibly thcncc
derive Some consolation. ~ 20 scsscd some TALENT
for drawine--his remembrance Of the form and i.a-
lures was most vivid aud distinci-ond, guiding his
pencil with his heart rather than hand nc succeeded
ID n~odU aHc mc,' oT'rsor !Hor-Nko'"-7. H"d-r