The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-12
MISCELLANY.
From the Dublin University Magazine for July.
THE SORCERER.
(Couc[lLded0


The charcoal crackles-the flame rises-the
room is filled with volumes OF purple smoke-the
chaunt becomes loud and incoherent-it becomes
louder and louder-the sSrcerer's voice is length
ened into scream Of agony or apprehension
thunder clouds appear to burst in the sky over
the turret of the magican-lurid flashes of gleam-
ing lightning glance amidst the vapor which
pervades the apartment. Suddenly, intense and
almost tangible darkness, obscures the the cham
ber-a crash is heard resounding from one end
of the vault of space to the other-the turret
rocks TO its foundation-nature seems to shud-
der at such violation of her laws-the sorcerer
himself, trembling, and terror stricken at his
own work, discontinues his chaunt, and SILVER
ing in all the agony of incomprehensible terror,
covers to the earth in the centre of the magic
circle. Suddenly all is hushed-all is silent as
the grave-every thing is still-hush! delicious
music steals over the terrified cart lasts not
long, however-the harmonious cadence dies
away, and a clear, but exceedingly small, still
voice, speaks from amidst the darkness Falri,
what willest thou" The effect of the voice
upon the trembling necromancer seemed electrical.
In an instant of time he was upon his feet, and
arect-and with the bloody sword held high
above his head in his right hand he addressed the
spirit.
"Adonai, spirit of evil, have called thee
there is work abroad for thcthere is opportunity
for thee to defy the tyranny of the Omnipotent-
there is work abroad for thee-great, glorious
WoFk--aid me, and thou shalt have two deaths
and two souls-Oi one, thou must thyself make
sure, and the other my right hand and this sword
shall give thee-haste, Adonai-foe of the Might
lest, be stirring and be powerful-give me, oh,
Adonai the power of exchanging my form and
features with whom | will, and abandoning the
borrowed appearance whGn please, and when I
no longer have occasion for it-and see teta-nd
yet, Adonai-spirit OF power and eternity show
me my beloved one, that may know how TO
obtain this night and where to find her in whom
my soul hath it's delight" He ceased, and the
spirit of darkness replied,
'"Mortal, thou hast thy wish-but beware-if
receive not the reward thou hast promised, thine
own soul and body must pay the forfeit, and
become my property for ever-is it so Falri'"
EeBe 1t So" answered the shuddering sorcerer-
s'this night succeed, or | perish"
The spirit resumed-EEAs for thy love, poor,
weak, miserable mortal, look-and behold thy
fellaw-worm in whom thy grovelling soul de-
hehteth-mortal bcholdm
Suddenly at the words of the still invisible
spirit, the purple vapor became condensed in the
centre of the apartment, and gradually assumed
the form of large and dense white cloud. Fal-
ri gazed upon it, and presently saw it become i'm
pressed with the similitude Of the house and gar
dens of Achmet. There was the door-there
was the myrtle and arbutus bower, where he
had oft lain concealed watching for Leila-and
lo he starts, what sees he now-he sees two
forms--bearing the siniltude of creatures of
clay-can he mistaken Mo- His love directs him
to the identity of the one, and his hatred to that
of the other. The forms are those of Hussein and
Leila.
Falri gazes, and with maddening soul-devour-
ing fury, he hears, or fancies he hears, vows of
plighted love interchanged He further hears Lei
las consent to meet her lover at midnight in the
self same bower, and fly with him whithersoever
he desired. Love, hatred, jealousy, revenge, all
at the same moment, animated the breast of the
fnfuriata1 sorcerer, First he vents his malice III
low, but heartfelt curses, and aiabolical impreca
tons AT length his fury obtains perfect mastery
over him, and in his rage he even stabs with his
reeking weapon at the semhl nee o. his abhorred
rival. But no sooner had Ia Z. ,Ic 50 than the
lonely turret again trembled to its lJundation--
thunder once more pealed aboveits summit-the
yapor gradually dispersed-the darkness was
displaced by red and fiery glare from the cha
fling dish-all was as beforehand in the midst OF
the magic circle-with the charmed sword still
in his appraised hand stood Falri! He breathed
one long and kissing brcath-with the back OF
his left hand he wiped away the cold dew from
his forehead-he looked fearfully and cautiously
around him-hut the chamber was once more ten
sHiless save by hi,sselij and Falri the sorcerer
knew that he was alone.
Slowly, slowly did the hours roll by, far too
slowly either for the unhallowed eagerncss OF
Falris devlish DESIRES or for the fond and ardent
actuated by far different feelings, onged for the
arrival of the night, more than ever did pilgrim
of Zahara burn for the friendly spring in VII h
lie hoped to cool his parched and sandy mo- ''
Night did lewever at length arrive and cast u
dark mantle over the house of Achmet. The
tbsr Of Leila slept but his slumbers were disturb
ed-terrifc visions tqated through his slumbsr-
ing bran-he dreamed Of his daughter he thought
he saw her in the hands of demon-hc thought
he beheld her pale, lifeless, extended upon the
ground-he Thought he saw the fend, like huge
and ravenous Ghol, squattod upon her breast,
muttering and gibbering, as if exulting in the
anticipation of luscious banquctvon her lovely,
spotless body The demon was just proceeding
to tear the clothes from the body OF Leila, that
. no obstacle might be offered to the qualification
of his Internal appetite. The father in his dream
rushed upon the savage to scare him from hi.
prey. The Gbol resisted-they grappled-thcy
tttrr1ggled-they taEe-they pulied-they bit
thew ground their teeth in mockery and defiance
of one another. The conflict was long and Sc
we're. Achmet felt that the talons of the blood
thirsty Ghol were at his throat-his breath went
and came-and with a convulsive struggle he
awoke.
II was some time ere Achmet could 50 complete
lv shake off sleep as to divest his mind OF the
lsei;nys To which his frightful dream had giver
birth But as soon as he could succeed in doing
: q he started from his bed, hastily flung his man
tlc around him, and hurried to his daughter,
chamber. Entsring gently, he found she SUI
slept, and having ascsrtaincd that all was safe
he locked the door AMI placing eunich at I'M
outside OF her apartment with orders 10 teii mn
when she awakened in the morning, ne returhe'
to his own couch and once more resigned himsei
TO sleep