The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-10
into the garden Of one Of the palaces be

a fayourite, Fatima attracted the notice
Of the visier; he took ber into the palace,
he clothed her with rich silks, adorned her
with jewels, and she supplied the place OF
the degraded Semira. 5a& fie
Fafima now thought herself the happi-
est among the happy; hut the yisier was
capricious, and exceedingly
cruel 1t was not long before she found
that the favorite Of the grand wiser lived
only in splendid slavery. But though,
snid she oitento herself, though the grand
yisier's iavourite is miserable, how super
latve happy must be the favorite Sdltana
Of my lord and emperor. Oh! could
but fill that envied place, how soon should
the imperious visier suffer for hisbarbari-
-ty to me. Again did the bosom Of Fati-
ma experience all the misertes of discon-
tent; the vaulted roofs, spacious gardens,
and rich presents Of the visier no longer
charmed; she sighed for the ensigns OF
royalty, and her pillow was nightly bedew
cd with her tears. sE
One evening she retired to an arbour at
the extremity of the garden, and throwing
herself on the bank where she had first
seen Semiru, thus poured forth her COM
tplaints.
s'Oh! miserable Fatima! How hard a
lot is mine. Condemned to drag out
wretched life with man who studies only
his own qualification, and expects me to
be the slave of his caprice and passion.
Oh! could / but get from this detested
place, would fly to my lord the emperor,
and bow myselfiow in the dust before him;
my charms might captivate his royal
heart, and might, reign empress OF the
East. &a
/ As she spoke these words sudden
light entered the arbour, and the genil
Nouradin stood before her.
I" Beautiful Fatima,c said he, forbcar
your complaints; the prophet permits you
to enjoy your wish then rise and follow
me-"
4 The eenii instantly transported her to
the emperof's palace, and placed her a.
long with number OF beautiful virgins,
which were the next morning to be shewn
to the emperor that lie might choose iav
: orite. ~ ih
In the morning Tile empttor passed
: through the apartment, and his choice tell
upon Fatimn. She was clothed in the en-
signs oftoyalty, led in stateto the mosque,
and in few hours heard hersclfproclaIm-
ed empress Of the East.
i But Fatirna, to the idea ofroyalty had
connected the ideas of youth and beauty.
How surprised was she then to find the EN-
peror old, ugly, and deiormed in Ills per-
son, morole in his disposition, and jealous
to an extreme. She shrunk from him
with horror, and contracted so settled an
aversion to his person, that it was not all
the grandeur and pomp that attended hel
: could compensate for her being obliged
to suffer his loathed embraces. tal
Among the slaves that attended on Fa.
TINA was the beautiful Zynina, who had
long with envious eyes beheld the ensigns
/ of roy atty bestowed on others, and only
watched an opportunity to ingratlat,e her
self with the Emperor; to this end she art
fully cultivated the friendship OF the new
queen, and by degrees drew from her the
treason Of her tears and detection. This
intelligence was instantly conveyed to the
emperor, with the addition of Fatima's 3
heart being dedicated to another. The
emperor, willing to be convinced of the
sincerity of Zynina's declaration, desired
Ito be concealed in an apartment adjoining
to the queens, where he might easily hear
any thing That passed between her and
the deceitful slave, who Immediately re-
turned to her mistress, and renewed the
conversation. Fatina, glad to unburtlIen
her almost breaking heart, was easily led
To confess her settled aversion to her lord,
and that death itself would be preferable
to her present situation Then death be
thy portion, cried the, enragcd emperor;
fdri6psly rushing into the room, and lifting
his glittering scymitar. rs trf io
Fatima fell upon her knees, and burst
| ing into food of tears, cried, "Oh! that
was an humble cottager, and had never
known the pangs that wait On greatness.
AT that instant she found herself clad in
her former homely apparel, standing by
her fathers cottage, when tlie genii again
appeared, aud thus addressed her:
" Fatima, Ihavo shewn you shc vanity
of human wishes; learn iroA hence TO be
content with the nllotments Of Providence.
Whatever be your situation in life, submit
II l-A