The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-11
MISCELLAN ".
From the Dublin University Magazine for July.
THE SORCERER.


All the Eastern nations, and more especially
the Persians are supcrstitious and credulous tc
an astonishing degree. Witness their innnmer
able stories of enchantment and magicians, PerIs
D'iins, Ghols, Dives, Afrites, Vampires, &c
And so strongly has the belief in the existence
and agency of these terrible beings impressed
itself on the popular imagination, that there are
actually TO be met with in several parts of Persia
class of men who gain livelihood in the capa-
city of esVampir'd'gi," er Vampire destroyers,
whose duty consists in seeking out the suspected
Vampire, securing and re-interring it..
The natives will, if encouraged, frequently
amuse the weary traveller with marvellous
stories ofthis description, which they themselves
believe as implicitly as they do their Koran.
Besides these oral communications, attainable
of course only by the Travellers several of their
manuscripts abound with tales Of a similar char
acter, as a specimen of which the following short
sketch extracted from a curious MS. brought
home by friend, may not perhaps be thought
devoid of some interest Contrary to the most APP
nroved practice of oriental story -tellers, have
yentured, although not, | confess, without fear
and trembling, to omit much as possible all
unnecessary idiom and the introduction st Per-
sian phrases, which | am satifed can never set
off an essentially stupid tale and vii! but mar an
amusing one For such daring violation OF estab'
liShed rule | crave the indulgence of the reader;
and have OILY to request that he will not condemn
nv unpretend;ng production merely because
others less learned in the Eastern language and
customs than he is can, without difficulty, read
and understand.
n. the heavenly Bride Of the Prophet, hew can
now describe thy resplendent charms. How can
row describe thy more than Houri form, such
as it appeared when even this stern heart shi unk
and yyithered beneath the radiance of thy heaven
lit features All no! had even the eloquence OF
ismael-Ben-Ali, or the superhuman language OF
4 inrIt haIIC aVa av-
preston my glowing Imagination could devise
or INV tongue utter; still would my description
of thy loveliness be as far from the truth as are
1,e deceptiye pools of the desert unlike the crys-
tai springs of living water"
Now, with the readers permission, as the
Persians are rather verbose ana noWery IN tneir
style. I shall diyest myself Of any resemblance
to- a translator and tell the story In my own
words.
ella was, then, suffice 1t to say, extremely
beautiful; her eyss were large, black as night and
fringed with silIKen lashes, which almost swept
her check; her nose was straight ana e,eSahAy
shoned; whether Roman, Grecian or what, our
MS does not inform US; her lips clear and rudy
as the cherry, and her cheek soft, downy and
transparent as the peaches oil kassola' ne
oacss Of her form equalled the loneliness OF her
FEATURES. and her disposition was as gentle and
;nnocent as that of the young gazelle' Inc
fyoniaI warmth of fifteen oriental summers had
slreadv begun to invest her person with all the
delicious ripeness of incipient womanhood; and
Il NAV he readily supposed, that such being had
not reached that age without suitors. No! Lena
had dozens, aye, hundreds OF lovers, ready TO
prostrate themselves in the dust beneath her ieet
e bv so doing they might haply obtain one look,
80 ano,Ie Of appreciation or encouragement.
with tive only of these gentlemen have we any
thing to do however, and these l shall with my
friends permission, describe, to the exclusion oil
the Others ;: .
The first I Vlall introduce to your notice is a
man apparently passed the merriam OF me- Al
evidence of which might be adduced few strag-
cling gray hairs appearing in his beard and those
SS,mcR dreaded wrinkles called Sorrows feet" at
the corners Of his eyes. His stature was rather
under than ever the medium heightaof man, ms
form spare and slight his eyes small, ferrety ana
restless; his nose long, thin and prominent, MS
~, and laws bony and sharp. His features,
although strongly marked, were not, however,
aheolutely ugly, and his appearance was alto
ortber rather prepossessing than otherwise; but
an further observation you would detect an DC,
casional glance from his deeply sunken ana
penetrating eyes that gave enc an inoescripaoiy
Uncomfortable sensation, almost amounting 70
ella thrill of indefnable terror. This man was
= stranger in Isphahan: one knew when he
co,ns or 10 what nation he belonged; the langua-
qes of all countries seemed equally iamihar 10
him. and he spoke of their manners ana customs
with the air ozone who had long soIourneu Al
han Clone and unattended. Had taken house
and garden-had furnished the former in most
csstly manner, and soon became well Known as
one Of the wealthiest gentlemen In the place,
Tb;s nerson had seen Leila by accident, hao
ianad her and forthwith demanded her IN mar
t;.oe of her father, who eagerly accepted OF ms
nroposals, delighted and aattered by the pros,
bect of such a splendid match Tor his only anu
darling daughter h.u. e.
The other OF I.eia's lovers tnsa "o nav "
5.scr;be. was the reverse of Falri flor SO was the
s.ranger styled.l in every respect. Scarcely
nast his twentieth year, tall, powerfully and
Gracefully formed, Of an open, manly counte-
Dance. fearless and impetuous, but withai, affsc,
t;onate and warm-hearted, as any maiden could
desire her lover to be. Hussein, however, was
49, he had nothing in the wide world but his
~. hut being young, ardent and brave, was
rran;dly rising IN the estimation OF ms superior
of;cers. and had even more than once attracteo
the notice of the Pacha himself, IRON whom
Hussein looked for promotion as sooH AZ s&saii
cy should occur.
Alas! youth, and especially youth IN love, SCI
dom pauses to reflect. PAIR Oh iAIee, ua.n
uoI penetrating, black eyes, beaming from
",us, .pst face are terrible enemies to philoso
a,,U and reflection, both which worthless are p9,
~ sreouently entirely put TO the rout; OF at a.,
vents neglected and despised, until tine' INA
sen., ees iii romance and enchantment, mas
,,..e torn away that deceitful mask tha
80 "a - autv hath cast over the lace Oh thihss
.snos;na the hitherto unlocked Tor evils, poverty
destituti,n misery, and alas, ioI .o Keen con
olten repantance which had hitnef'o oss. 80,
ceaied beneath 1t. Hussein loved Lsn s r" ss.bs,
ately and sincerely; he had peuueneas :, .n.yye,
to consent to their union, put recsHe~ 49,
ap indignant refusal