it glistened a valuable jewel, whilst round his neck hung a massive gold chain to which was attached a locket containing of course some certain infallible charm. His tunic or jacket was of a green silk, heavily embroidered in front with gold and strings of seed pearl, which ornaments extended also from the wrist a considerable way up the arm. This bravely attired young man was seated cross-legged on a large cushion, covered with a cool Chinese mat, whilst at his feet lay a scymitar with a silver handle, and red velvet scabbard, as also a white cashmere shawl, which the sultriness of the weather had caused him to relinquish.

He was lazily inhaling the contents of a magnificent hookah, the bottom of which was fine European crystal, whilst its long coiled up snake, interwoven at intervals with gold threads and various bright coloured silks, formed a cheque exceedingly pleasing. The mouth piece which was intended to represent in miniature a bird of paradise, had a gaudy splendour, and the artist by means of paling or deepening the colour of his metal and a judicious conjunction of precious stones, had to say the least been tolerably successful; at a respectable éar-shot distance, stood a knot of attendants ready to start at any signal, whilst at his feet sat a handsome and gaily apparelled page.

This youngster seemed conscious of his good looks, for his turban was stuck somewhat conceitedly on one side, by which means a few raven ringlets that any prisoner of the haram would have envied, were permitted to fall down a well turned neck, which but for the fervent beams of his native sun would have been alabaster. In his hand he twisted thoughtfully the gilt handle of a chamur, which is the snowy tail of the Thibet bull, used for whisking away flies. This showed his menial capacity, though it was contradicted by the privilege of being seated.

The bustle and animation of the scene which these two young men overlooked, was almost sufficient to

have weaned away a consciousness of the suffocating heat. Innumerable boats were plying about in all directions, some heavily laden, and with wide sails uselessly unfurled, were being dragged up the stream by long trains of boatmen, whilst their pilots or manjees sat listless smoking at the long rudders which guided them. Others again were darting rapidly along, transporting personages of distinction, to some of the stately palaces on the river's side.

Some of these barges or budgerowes were fitted up with splendid awnings, gilded poles and streamers, and many happy groupes might be seen making little pleasure excursions, whilst song and music swelled over the waters. Far as eye could reach along either bank, there sparkled numberless little fires of the boatmen and ferrymen, who after the day's labour, were preparing their meals or smoking, and many a hearty burst of laughter declared the joyous levity with which this cessation of toil was spent by them.

"Alas!" exclaimed the personage we first described; "it seems to me but yesterday, when every feeling and thought you have now recapitulated, my mind also would have coined; its die is, however, now changed-and no one on comparison could tell that its present impression of things is struck by the same instrument. Who can witness all that thoughtless mirth and inactivity without being convinced of the extreme folly of those who toil, and plot, and ponder, and make themselves miserable, for the sake of having a nominal control over a pack of fellow-creatures, who never trouble their heads about the matter? See," continued he, nodding his head which rested on his hand towards a noisy group of boatmen, whilst a smile slightly cynical mantled his lips: "See yon knot of naked indigent men-is there, I would ask, half so much happiness, half so much security in the whole Emperor's durbar as amongst them? I tell thee, Alraschid, the higher man's wishes tower, the further generally are they removed from sense and enjoyment.

The loftier branches of a tree are the oftenest rocked and rent by the breeze. Contentment, my friend, is the nearest earthly approximation to happiness. As for ambition-'tis but a glutless, insatiable longing, the greatest curse with which man can be afflicted."

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"So far perchance, Prince," replied the page, earthly matters are concerned. Are not however our expectations of a better state hereafter, but the vastest expansion of human ambition ?—a steadfast desire which the weak uneducated mind can aim at as confidently, as the most subtle and best gifted; and who would wish to be ignorant of such glorious aspirations ?"

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Nay," replied the Prince, for it was Mahommed the son of Aurungzebe, "it appears to me, that in this there is a difference. He who seeks temporal greatness or fame, does not necessarily seek virtue; though I admit he seeks happiness erroneously; whereas he who looks forward to paradise, must seek virtue. Now the sentiments which lead to virtue, and consequently to a hope of future felicity, are different from those which usually prompt us to acquire worldly greatness; and unless you maintain that our every thought and action can be reduced to selfishness (which I admit not) a dissimilarity must certainly exist betwixt them."

"I am not philosopher enough," answered Alraschid, "to argue with, much less confute you; but methinks you must have either very little ambition, or very great resolution to withstand the tempting bribery and great promises of your grandfather."

"No one," replied the Prince, can assume any merit for performing properly his duty. But if ever human being's strongest passions were put to the test, mine have been:-my cupidity, ambition, even my very affections. This very day, Alraschid, my grandfather sent for me, and used every means to induce me to prove perfidious. Mahommed,' said he, pointing to the imperial crown suspended over his head, release me from the bonds by which an unfeeling son has shackled me,

and thou shalt be my successor in the empire. By this sacred book,' taking up the koran which lay near him, 'I swear it!' It was then, my friend, that for the first time I wavered; temptation struck me with all her mightiness, and I staggered beneath her blow. Bright visions of greatness flitted athwart mine eyes. I saw myself the sceptred master of millions of slaves; my throne surrounded by prostrate princes, and every maddest conception suddenly realized. Principle, however, or filial affection, triumphed after a brief but distracting struggle over selfishness and ambition. I firmly refused.'

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“Yet in such a manner I trust," replied his companion, as to show that instead of intending to trifle with his feelings; you sympathised in his sorrows."

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Assuredly," replied the Prince; "and hard must the heart have been which felt not for a hoary uncrowned relative, who petitioned for pity and assistance; who wept before his progeny and begged their help, their blessing! O yes! I pity him, Alraschid, though the indignity he now undergoes, may be considered as but heaven's retribution for his own unwarrantable actions!"

"True," answered his companion, "I have heard that Shaw Jehan waded through much kindred blood, e'er he thought himself secure upon the musmud, whereas your father, without having recourse to such inhuman, sanguinary.

"Silence!" exclaimed Mahommed, whose brows had gradually become knit and scowling as Alraschid proceeded with his observations; "darest thou before my face apply such opprobrious epithets to any of the illustrious house of Timour ?"

"Pardon me, I prithee; pardon me," responded Alraschid, "the expressions inadvertently escaped me. I were base and altogether unworthy of the honours heaped upon me by you, if any intentional disrespect towards your father or any of his ancestors proceeded from my lips."

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Enough," replied the Prince, "for in sooth, now I have subdued an intemperance of which I should feel ashamed-you have said nothing but what is true. Shaw Jehan was a murderer--and so is my father-the blood of my uncle is still reeking before heaven. Oh! my son, into what a labyrinth of crime and misery will ambition plunge weak humanity!"

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Your highness," replied the page, "must feel serenely happy at having had the fortitude to withstand a temptation which has almost invariably been too strong for man-and proved but the golden lure to unquietness.' Happy!" reiterated Mahommed with an agonized expression of feature and letting fall his hookah, "God grant, boy, you may never know my happiness !—if principle once made a mighty conquest over passion-it was but to render me more susceptible of regret and misery. I am at heart boundlessly ambitious, and now pant after what I so foolishly spurned. That I was virtuous enough, or as I esteem it, simple enough, not to liberate my grandfather, and be his successor, is the gnawing reflection beneath which I now writhe-but it matters not; do what we please, it is but fulfilling the destinies of our poor nature. Boy!" continued he after a pause, "were you ever in love?"

"Never as yet, my lord," responded his attendant, with a smile and half bashful confusion which he could

not repress.

"Then," replied the Prince, with that commanding manner which birth and power had made natural to him, even in common conversation, "I would have you take special heed how you fall in love. On doing so, must hinge your whole prosperity and peace. Love, my friend, has ruined more nations than hatred. It has blinded the clearest sighted-unstrung the bows of the strong, and bowed virtue and wisdom to the ground. Love is a mighty gambler-men-nations-empires are his stakes, and hearts the dice he throws !-Beware, Alraschid, how you fall in love."