Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-06

hewas engaged. But he had little time
allowed him for reflection, ere the heavy
6lds of curtain, which overhung a
small door, were partially Withdrawn,
and a fair hand and sweet voice invited
kimHo enter. Helapproached, lifted up
|the curtain, and beheld a superbly-fur-
Hnished apartment, lit with silver lamps,
fed with the perfumed oil Of Samaria.--
Mirrors of polished metal hung around
the room, while, on low couch, sat, or
rather reclined, the beautiful stranger,
whose charms now shone with splen-
dor far surprising anything the Rabbi
could imagine of mortal mould. He es-
sayed to speak, but the words dwelt
upon his lips. She beckoned him to take
seat beside her. He obeyed trembling
ly; but the gentle, assuring smile which
she cast upon him, at once banished his
timidity, and he suffered his eyes to wan
der in unrestrained freedom over those
voluptuous beauties till the sight became
painful from extreme delight. A female
attendant spread before them light but
luxurious repast of fresh and dried fruits,
grapes, figs, apricots, olives, pomegran-
ates, and dates, interspersed with pots of
pure honey, rose cakes of Damascus,
and bananas of Rosetta; with Egyptian
syrup, and crystal vases. in which the
rich wine of Helbon sparkled with temp
ting briliancy.
"Fairest of the daughters of men, may
crave thy name, and that Of thy fathers
house 2" said the Rabbi, addressing his
unknown companion.
"My name is Zorah," replied the dam
sci. "My father is of the children of
Ishmael, and an abider in the desert !;
the fame ofthe sage Abimelech has reach
ed unto the further borders of the wilder
ness, and behold, the heart of thy hand
maiden was moved to see the man of
whose wisdom all nations speak,"
"Lovely Zorah!" exclaimed the enam-
ored sage, "my wisdom is become as
withered grass before thy beauty, and the
strength of my heart as dew in the con-
suming light of thine eyes. Suffer me.
therefore, to be unto thee even as Boaz
4 was unto Ruth, and to love thee with the
Floye wherewith Jacob loved Rachel"
,Zorah smiled at the earnestness with
which these words were uttered, and FL
ling the cup, presented it to the delight
ed Rabbi, who instnctively shrank from
the dangerous libation (; but Zorah would
not be denied.
Urge me not fair damsel," said he
81 have vow against the juice of the
vine until next new MOON"
i Zorah's countenance fell, and the big
tear hung tremblingly onsher dark eyes
silken lash. Abimelech, torn with con-
ficting passions, passed his arm around
her waist, and drew her INCREASINGLY to
his bosom: he felt the quick pulse Of her
heart throb against his-her warm sighs
were upon his cheek, and the perfumed
wine-cup at his lips; human strength
could resist no longer, he seized the cup
with desperate hands, and at single
draught quaffed it to the bottom. His
oo,o ,oas broken, and having nothing far
ther to hope or fear, draught followed
draught in quick succession, till his flush
ed cheeks and sparkling eyes bore evi-
dence that he was no longer under the
dominion ofreason.
"Zorah, my beautiful Zorah?" cried
he, "my love for thee is as thelove which
floods cannot quench, nor many waters
drown. Thoo art the light of mine eyes
i cannot part from thee; let us, there
fore, flee unto thy fathers tents, even un-
to the wilderness as unto city of re-
fuge."
".Ah my lord, thy servant hath neither
gold nor silver to bear the charge
Could we live like theraven or the stork
OF the desert"
This objection had not struck Abime-
lech before; he was rich himself, but he
could not Immediately convert his pos
sessions into money, and hi, passion was
too violent to admit delay. He seemed
perplexed and spake not, till Zorah en-
quired, in a careless manner, if his next
door neighbor was not the rich publican,
Aaron Ben Rabiat.
1t is even So" replied Rabbi, still
musing.
"And he hath am told, Golfers filled
with shekels of pure silver?"
sit is said so."
"And shekels ofgold, and pots of mac
cabees, and precious stones, pearls, and
sardonyx, and carbuncles more costly
than the jewels Of the high priests breast
plate 7"
"Hahp exclaimed Abimelech, as if "a
sudden ray of LIGHT had darted across