, 1862-05-23

|
ceased; and so, year after year, the kingdom
waxed more rich and more powerful.
But "there Is no cup without its bitter
drop,'' saith the Arabian proyerb, epd the
fortune Of Prince Amnrath WIS no exception
to the common. lot Of mortals. At his court
resided potent magician named Abaddon,
Of IN age so immense that he was thought by |.
many to be Immortal. The disposition Of
this personage was crafty, implacab1e and
cruel; his appearance hideous and repulsive.
His body was SO bent that he vas not more
than three feet III height, and his limbs we're
misshapen aud distorted Ills complexion
goats wool, and his mouth disfgured by hor-
rible fargs. These deformities he,sought to |
hide hJ rich and costly apparel; and he wore
constantly mask to conceal the hideousness
Of features which no one could look upon for !
the first time, Without shuader.
This monster had appeared in Kha1cdan, |
when that Eingdom was q province Of Persia. |
From whence he came Was never certainly !
known; but fa1ne pronounced him descen- !
dant Of Agar, king Of Africa. Sultan Fain-il- |
shah bestowed upon him the province Of |
San,arcand for his own possession; and this |
noble gift was confirmed to him by the laws |
Of the new government (which, like the Laws
Of Mede and Persia might never alter,) when
the sceptre Of Fain-ilshah was grasped by
his son. The fairy Ilzaide-whosa name
signifies fteedo1n-whispered to Prince ANIL
rath that his generosity might cost him dear;
but he listened impatiently to this suggestion.
The maxims Of his family, and the traditions
Of his people alike Inscribed to the magician
extraordinary virtues. Many an austerc
dergish found in the dark sayings
| Of A1coran prophecies of Abaddon's great
ness; and the claims thus made, and IL
| dustriously encouraged BY the object Of them,
! were readily believed by the Ignorant and
crcdulous.
| For time the sky above the princes head
| seemed without 4 cloud. Throughout his
kingdom, Pence and Plenty c1asped hands to-
/ gctncr. The province allotted to the magician
| Was ruled By him il subscrvicnce to the Lars,
| nor did he seem to desire anything beyond.
Nevertheless, he secretly hbored to imbue its
people with q fanatical enthusiasm for himself
and q zeal for his service, while Weakening
their attachment to their nghtful lord.
With profound duplicity he secured the con
fidence Of Amurath, who forgot his deforni-
| ties, in the contemplation Of his experience
and sagacity. When consulted regarding the
Offices Of state, he carefully provided that his
masters servants should also he his own.
Finally he requested Erom the Prince large
addition to the territory he possessed. This
demand was complied with in spite of the r.:-
peated warnings Of nzaidc. The Magician
regarded the good furry with bitter hntred, and
ins1illed into Lis royal pupil a suspicion IS to
her sincerity. Upon al other subjects Prince
Amurath sought her counsel, and implicitly
obeycl her; but to this, his greatest danger,
he tccn,ed blind and deaf.
| The iusaliahlt exile, finding himself thus
successful, demanded new and large conces
s1ons. His creatures soon filled every Office o1
| trust or profit, md in return for his support
be compelled them to pay him heavy tribute
t The throng Of parasites and courtiers deserted
the autechambers Of the palace, to bow befort
this new potentate: and in token Of their al
} 1cgiauce, they knelt and placed his feet upo1
their necks. No one, who avoided this cere
n1o1y could hope for favor or advancement
: The laws Of Khaledan were dictated By Abad
don, and its revenues were turned aside to en
, rich his fayorites. His provinces were rie
and fertile beyond any other portion Of th
Kingdom. LII THE North the country was fre
= qnently rocky and mountainous, and ice an
# SNOW lay for many.montbs in each year upo
the ground. But the people Ecro active an
e Industrious, and With patient toll wruug
tribute from the reluctant earth. In the sout
it was fir otherwise. There, perpetual sun
y; nier smiled upon bountifnl soil great river
aS wandered through its valleys; and the air vi
- - cooled BY fragrant breezes from the India
= Sea. But 4 blight rested upon it, and the ric1
Or est plains gradually became wasted and steril
ID It's fnhaDftants wefe ignorant and proud. Lii
~ our own bcdoufns Of the desert they boastt
= Of their chiya1ry and hospitality, and like the
also they we're indolent, rapacious, treache
Gus and cruel. 70 the great magician th
ees were devoted with blind aud unreasoning "a
- atic1sm. i,
L. Prince A1nurath sometimes sighed, as
=, thought Of the sacrifices he had made for
ungrateful subject; and: was som;timss
G., mayed at the prospect before hiG.' He f
oie .a TINT the substance OF power had departe
while he still graBped fta shadow. The wa,
. ings Of nzaidc we're recalled no longer viii
II emile, but he still continued to drift with t
els s1z tide which 1as bearing him along, instead
oE bravc1y struggling agaiastit.
"a The disguise Of Abaddon, long tran5pare
e1 WIS finally cast away: Hemado Mesrour, t
i chief Of the eunuchs, grand Vizler, and I
r, nanded that the whole authority Of the St
~ should be contided to himself
cct- Prince An.urath, prepared as he was for
tae ds evil day, was At FIRST astouuded by t
.Ax; assumption Rousing himself from his f.
ok sleep, he called the faithful and long neglect
fairy to his side; and nrged by her counsel
p suddenly drove from their places the mimi
~ Of the magician. The old officials, Il
I'D startled from thenests where they had rio
81: 60 1obg, quilted them reluctantly ~ vultu
~ ~ relinqnish their prey at tho hunters {
y Immediately Abaddon fled to ;his proyint
2n and raIeed the standard Of revolt His foll
ers floeked around him, aud, ere many d.
: the prince received intelligence that
his very capital was threatened with dest1
. tion. He perceived, too late, that for this il
,ra- hrs enemies had been long preparing, "
he himself was unRrmed and almost defe
less. But the spirit of Amu1ath, tho
;, 1ulled into security by deceitful and treac
ees. ous peace, Was like = Damascus b1ade, wi
-. msy indeed rust In Its scabbard, but vi
AT exquisite temper remains the :sannf. He
termintd to efface The stain Of the past
e,,.s the glory Of the future; aud, though men:
!: and dcfed, he enjoyed the proud cousci
n pess that he yet reigued In the hearts OF
PC people. Swift messengers we're sent to
,,ent thirIs of: every loyal tribe, with summon
defend their country, and the prince OF t
I .aa1+5nr waa fha r1l1 hard thrn