Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
The CaHph, the suItana, and the Lover.

AN EABTERN TALE.
There lived in Bagdad a young man of .
such extreme beauty that he was sur
named the Brilliant. He had also the F,
gift of poesy. Oumen.le- Beniue, thewife
Of the Caliph, Ell Guild ben Abdel Melik,
was so much in love with this young man
that she fell sick. She introduced him
into her apartment every day, and when
she feared to be disturbed by the approach
of any one, she concealed her lover in a
Golfer. Such was their daily course. One
day the Caliph received a present of a col
lar of gold, garnished with precious stones,
with which he was greatly pleased.
Il will reserve this for my wife, said he
and Immediately he ordered one of his
euuuchs to carry the collar to the Saltana.
The slave, in going to execute his commits
sion, found the house door open.
what does this mean?' inquired he of
himself.
So saying he advanced stealthily along
towards the chamber, whence~proceedcd
sounds of laughter, and he met the eye of
the young man, who started and became
pale as death. With a bound the Sultana
pushed him into the Golfer but the slave
had seen all He presented the collar,
and saids
Madam, I must demand of you a stone
from this jewell
Indignant at such boldness she exclaim.
ed 4:
Rude creature, depart from my pres
ence =
The enraged slave went straight to his
master, and said:
my lord, to day 7 found a man in con
versation with your wife, in such a cham
Der. At my approach, the Sultana hic
him precipitately in such a Golfer
He then described the piece of furniture
The Caliph was Infatuated against the ser
want for bringing him such a message.
Thou base miscreant dog 7 he ex
claimed, and ordered his head to be Gu
off.
When the execution was over, the Ca
liph rose, put on his slippers, and went t
his wife's apartments. She was occupie
in arranging her head dress. He entere
and sat facing her upon the Golfer indies
ted by the slave. He said to her in til
course of conversation /:
How happens it that you have such
/. liking for this chamber? p
T Because my apparel is here she r
: Piled
: May dare to hope that you will fav
me with one of the Golfers with which Il
}. chamber is furnished ?
: Take, my lord, whichever you plea
= with the exception of the one you are Sc;
1t ed upon
This is precisely the one l PREFER repli
II the Caliph you must let me have it.
q After a moments stupor the Sulta
y said to him
very we'll, it is yours
n At a signal from the Caliph, the bla'
ey appeared.
81 Take this Golfer into the Hall of Co,
Gil and wait for me-
While the slaves were bearing away
Ter Golfer, the c~ountenance of the Sultana b
to traces Of confusion.
perhaps UnIs co
may contain thy heart
Sc Pardon me, my Lord, it contains nc
ing such. If l appear a little moved
OF is because / have been taken sudde
Idy ill.,
ous God will cure thee 2 observed the
'er- liph, retiring.
'es- When he reached the Hall of Audier
OF he found the Golfer upon the floor.
at RAISE the carpet he said to his sla
land dig a hole the size of a man.
The pit being dug, he made a sig
ent place the Golfer on the bank. Then 7
en- ting one foot upon the piece Of furnit
the he pronounced the following words:
ms News has come to me; if fiji be true
vestmena shall be thy shroud, this
re- shall be thy bier, and it is God that in
nat lates thee. If this news is false, | In
the Golfer, and lose only a few planks.'
was He then pushed the box, which de:
ded rapidly to the bottom of the pit.
ess- blacks filled up the grave and replaced
no carpet. The Caliph then returned t.
toll spouse, and both deported themselves
ing nothing had happened between the
ease Peace united their existence until the
rati- of death.