Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-07-23

There was once an Arab King en-.
dowcd with q most extraordinary
memory. 1t was sufficient for him to
hear an ode, however long, recited
but once, for him to be able to repeat
it as well as the author himself He
had in his service also, two persons
who possessed this faculty in very re-
marEable degree One of his
Mamelukes could repeat without hesi-
tation a poem he had heard twice:
and one of his slaves could repeat
with the same facility verses that he
had heard three times.
When poet presented himself at
the palace and solicited to offer bis
homage to the throne and to give
proof Of his talents, the king was in
the habit of promising that if he found
their verses new and the composition
wholly original, he would recompense
their author by giving him the weight
Of the manuscript in gold. The poet
we'll assured Of tho originality of his
poem declaimed with confidence, but
scarcely had he concluded, when the
king exclaimed: these verses are not
new to me, I have heard them some
years ago, even know them by heart.
tie then repeated them word for word,
to the great surprise of the poet. He
added this Mameluke knows them
also and shall repeat them to YOU
And the DIameluke who had heard
the poem recited by the poet and the
king, now repeated it with equal &C.
curacy. 4 have also slave said the
king, 'who ought to remember these
verses as well as myself; Let him be
brought to mel" And the slave who
had all the while been con.
ccalcd behind the hangings was made
to appear; he had heard the poet, the
King and the Mamelukc, by turns re-
cite the poem,. and he repeated it as if
it had been known to him since child
hood. The poet remained confound-
cd, unable to comprehend how others
knew his verses As well as himself;
he believed himself to be the victim
Of some evil genius; but he had no
power of proving his authorship and
was obliged to withdraw discom6tted
and empty handed.
A famous poet, named El.Asmaee,
struck with the disappointment of all
his brother bards, suspected the kings
artifice, and resolved to submit to the
same trial, promising himself to come
out victor. He composed an ode,
wherein he introduo ID, with great pa.
tiencc and erudi,ion, poetic words The
most difficult to pronounce and retain
in the Arab language. He then dres
sed himself in . strange costume, and
covered his face, except the eyes with
a litham, (piece Of cloth) like the arab.
of the desert Thus disguised he ar
rived at the court of the king, and
was conducted to his presence.
! 'Oh! brother Of the Arabs said the
king to him, whence comest thou
and what desirest thou Of me?''
The Poet replied: May allah in
crease the power Of the King! l in
= poor.poet, Of the tribe Of Aim and
have composed au ode in honor of on,
'lBOVeTel2n INC sultan.
j sOh! brother Of the Arabs.' replied
the King, 'knowest thou on what con.
dition thou wilt obtain a recompense
from me?'
Il am indeed ignorant Of them said
the poet. What are those condition.
oh! most powerful king?'
If the ode which thou art about tt
recite has not been composed by thy
sell, thou wilt obtain no recompenst
from me. But if it be new and tho,
art really the author, I will give thee
the weight Of thy manuscript in gold
How should dare,' cried FL As
NEE, pretend to he the author Of yer
ses, written by another. Does no
every subject know that to utter I,
falsehood before king is one Of th,
vilest actions that can be committed
The verses are mine own, and I sub
NIT without fear to the condition
!: you are pleased to impose-oh, angus
: monarch
He recited his ode. The king, con
fused was unable to retain . singl,
} word. He madsa sign to bis man
eluke; but the mameluke confessed lik
inability. He caused the slave to o.
'Ipear; he was still less prepared to pei
form his part
! oh! brother Of the Arabs said th
king, thou hast spoken The truth,
the ode is doubtless thine; this b chi