The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-14
MISCELLANY.
AzZiihhff-AN ziihff- ORIENTAL i ALE.

It is a mortifying subject to those who are possessed of wealth and power, that there are blessings which wealth cannot purchase, nor prerogative command yet, without which, alfluenee is worth less, and power without use.--It is oi I little account to be powerful, if we have not health; or rich, if we have not a con tented mind.
 z Among others whom experience had taught this unpleasant truth. was the great Shah Abbas, the actual ruler oi $ one Of the finest, richest, and most ex- tensiye provinces of Peristan, and ina ginary Brother of the Sun, and Uncle to the Moon. The magnificence and splendorof his palaces, the multitude of his attendants, and the costliness of his equipages; the number of his armies. and their powerin the field-were the wonder, admiration, and envy of all his royal contemporaries.
 And yet Shah sbbas was unhappy.
 Then he added fresh beauties to his old palaces, and he caused to be erected new ones, still more splendid; he in- creased the number of his retinue and of his armies-his mandates, issued more peremptorily than ever, were ex- ecuted more rigidly, and his subjects wondered and trembled at the great power of Shah Abbas.
 Still he was discontented; yes, he who dwelt amid the splendor and luxu- " of palaces-by whose permission. merely, thousands lived; was more un- happy than the peasant in his humble cot, who only wore his beard, as it were by license. and subject to the will of ty- rannicai caprice.
 Having at last discovered that those who werethe executors of his power. or the servants of his luxury, could neither procure hin, happiness, nor inform him how or where it might be obtained, Shah Abbas summoned together the wise men of his court--those whose lives had been passed in the study of wisdom and the requirement of the theory of virtue.
 "Tell nle," said the Prince e1ye, who have spent many years in the pursuit of wisdom, and have reaped the fruits of labor and experience-what is necessa- ry to constitute happy man?"
 Three days were allowed the sages, for the preparationof their answers; and he who gave inone thatwas satisfactory, Was promised 3 reward worthy the pro pounder of tile question.
 The hope of reward was great-but inc fear Of punishment was greater; to state unwelcome truths might incur the displeasare Of one whose word was life or death; a risk they ali very carefully avoided; for when the day came for the delivery of their answer-they were u. unanimously agreed in the opinion that to be happy, man must be powerful and rich--even as Shah Abbas.
 If the Prince had no reason to expect different answers, he felt little satisfac- tlon in those which were given.
 Now, 1t was in open court that the an swers of the wise men were delivered and t happened, that among the persons . present, there was travelling Dervise one of a class to whom, devotion grants what pomp and etiquette would deny free access to the palaces and council. of Eastern Kings.
 No sooner had the sages concluded tnelr glowing and eloquent depicturings Of the happiness of him who is powerful and rich; than the listening Dervise ab ruptiy broke the silence that ensued:
 < Had wealth and power constituted 2 happy being, his own feelings would have left the great Shah Abbas no req. son for inquiring on the subject; since ne would have. known that to be grea, and powerful was to be happy. Few words may suffice to describe, IS we'll as language can dai #, what It is to be per