Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-09-06
Nadir.
FROM THE GERMAN OF LUDWIG T1EcK.

The gloomy misanthrope Nadir, wan
dered over the Arabian plain. The sun
stood in the midst of the heavens, and
darted his glowing beams upon the trave-
Ter. Around him there was no tree, no
bush even which could afford a refreshing
shadow: his eye sought in vain fountain
from which to quench his burning thirst:
he walked YEARLY and slowly, looking
languidly above to see if a little compass
sionate cloud were not there to bestow up
on him rain and GOODNESS; but SO far as his
vision extended, shone the heavens in its
clear blue raiment, the suns rays burning
yet more iercely. No kind wind waved
cco!ness toward him: stiffness lay upon
the earth: the birds had flown back to their
shelter in distant wood: and neither vii
lage or house invited the wanderer. Be-
fore, and around him, Nadir saw only an
immense wilderness; be envied even the
little fly, which could find shelter in the
withered grass.
Nadir cursed thousand times his des-
tiny; thousand times the distily of men
whom affliction and suffering follow at
every step.
Throug Oh the blue heavens spread sof-
ter shade of purple; the sun sank gently
down; and the shadows stole over eventide.
aThanks to thee, great prophet" said
the exhausted Nadir, as he saw the moon
and stars above him. He dragged himself
slowly along; his parched tongue longing
for single drow of water. "Oh, if I
were only in the deepest snow of the
rocky Caucasus" thought he. 81 could
even swim through current of the North
pole" He went farther. There waved
a cooling breeze over the plain as Nadir
came into wood
The wind grew stronger; clouds flew
through the heavens and obliterated with
their dark forms the moon and stars; a
storm shook the wood, the pine trees
sighed, the expresses moaned, and the rain
fell heavily.
Finally, Nadir saw through the tangled
wood distant glimmering light, that
through the wet leaves and falling rain
looked towards him. He pressed through
the wood, through bushes that often clasp
ed him in their wet arms, until he saw the
light glancing from plain before him.
1t came from lowly hut, whose moss
grown-roof dropped with rain. He knock
ed at the door; dog barked at him from
the yard; the weather cock upon the roof
creaked in the wind. The door was soft
ly opened, and an old woman,stepped for
ward.
"Will you permit poor wanderer to
remain here during the night?" inquired
Nadir.
every willingly" was the answer
She led him into the house through pas
-"There,' says she, "where thou
seest the light shining through the door
thou mayest co." She left him.
Nadir wondered at SO large passage
in the little hut: his steps echoed from
the walls, as he went through the stiffness.
He stood before the door from which the
light had appeared to him, he opened it
and astonished, closed his dazzled eyes.
He stepped into an immensely large saloon
lighted by thousand lamps: the walls glitt-
cred with marbles and gold: heavenly
music foated in waves Of melody through
the room.
'Where am l." said Nadir.
A magniicently dressed female came
towards him, led him to table, and invit-
ed him to eat. Nadir ate without yentur-
ing to raise his eyes. When he had fin
ished his repast, he felt himselfinvigorat-
ed with new power and courage and he
looked around him. Thousands Of lamps
shone from chandeliers Of diamond: sap
phire, rubies, and gold were strewn over
the beautifully polished walls; spirit like
music breathed upon Nadir's ears; his
eyes were weariec in tracing the long vista
Of arches which seemed to have no end:
and his establishment increased every mo-
ment.
"Come on said the possessor of the
palace, and led him through the dazzling
saloon. He saw it filled with all kinds Of
people, amused himself by watching the