in her refreshments, and never left her alone for a moment. The Princess was conscious of the presence of some supernatural being, and was so alarmed at the mystery, that she became extremely ill. Her parents perceived her miserable state with the greatest concern. Physicians of the highest renown were called in to administer the most potent remedies, but all their skill proved unavail ing in restoring her to health. The wretched father then consulted his Prime Minister on the occasion. The Vizier suspect: ed some trick was practised upon the unfortunate Princess, and advised his sovereign to cause a smoke to be made in her chamber, in which the Princess was recommended to confine herself for a few minutes. This expedient had the desired effect; for Nujjeed unable to keep his eyes open, rubbed them often until the ointment being wiped off, he stood detected in the Princess's presence. She shrieked out and the people rushing to her assistance, seized Nujjeed and dragged him before the enraged Prince, to whom, in the terror of his mind he confessed the whole secret, and even betrayed the real planner of the scheme.

Abdulla was brought bound before the full divan, and ordered to be led to instant execution. Ere, however, the sword of justice exacted the penalty of his crime, Abdulla intreated one of the officers to inform the king that he had something of the greatest importance to communicate to His Majesty. On the delivery of the message in question, the sentence of execution was respited for a while, and Abdulla ordered to appear again before the King. Prostrating himself before the throne, Abdulla said, that what he was anxious of apprising His Majesty was, no state secret, but simply that before death put it out of his power he might be allowed to exhibit to him a specimen of his wonder-working art, which he felt satisfied would afford the highest gratification to His Majesty. A bason of water being according to Abdulla's request supplied him, he placed himself before it and humbly entreated the king to do the same, as well as stoop down and look into it. But fearful of some treachery, as is usu ally the case with despots, he bid his Prime Minister do so, when Abdulla put his right hand on the Vizier's back, who, thereupon fancied himself suddenly metamorphosed into a woman and descending into the basin of water. At the end of six weeks he thought he touched ground and looking around him, beheld with mingled feelings of astonishment and pleasure, a splendid garden equal in magnificence to what poet's describe, are to be found in purreestaun, or the land of fairies. Trees arrayed in the freshest and most luxuriant foliage, and loaded with the most luscious fruits, and plants blooming with flowers of a variety of the most enchanting hues met his delighted eye, wherever he turned it, while a most harmonious concert was warbled forth by birds of

the most beautiful plumage. At a short distance he observed, fountains bubbling their waters in the sun, whose rays reflected their radiance in watery pyramids; artificial cascades too dashed in foamy billows from artificial hills interspersed to relieve the monotony of a level scene. In the midst of this romantic prospect, which from its exquisite elegance and beauty, the Vizier thought to be nothing less than a vivid revelation of the Mahomedan paradise, stood a magnificent building into which, with a throbbing heart, our adventurer entered, expecting to behold still greater wonders; imagination would fail to give any thing like an adequate description of the interior: every object he saw struck the Vizier with astonishment. He entered at last into what he conceived to be a private apartment, in the centre of which stood a golden bed, studded with the most precious gems. He had however no sooner lifted up the curtain made of silvertissue, fringed with orient pearls, then he started back and uttered a dreadful shriek, when Abdulla instantly withdrew his hand and the Vizier was surprised to find himself standing before a bason of water in the midst of the divan. The King asked the minister the cause of the horror he had exhibited, and was told, it was incommunicable as he had lost all recollection of it; but that if His Majesty would be pleased to undergo the same ceremony, he had no doubt but that his curiosity would be amply gratified upon. The King did so, and the same consequence happened to His Majesty, at the termination of which Abdulla plunged into the basin and disappeared, leaving the whole durbar involved in utter confusion and amazement.

M. T.

ON FAIR ROSAMOND'S TOMB.

Hic jacet in tumulo Rosa mundi, non Rosamunda :
Non redolet, sed olet, quæ redolere solet.

The fairest Rose the world has seen,
Lies here-not Rosamond, I ween.
How this fair flower's bloom is fled!

How changed those sweets which, once, it shed!
Its beauty and pérfume, which smiled to the day,
In the blight of corruption have wither'd away.

THE UNIVERSAL VOICE.

BY R. CALDER CAMPBELL.

1.

There's a voice in the desart's solitude,

When the Simoom roves in its maniac mood;
There's a sound on the vast and the shipless sea,
When it holds with the wind loud revelry.

2.

There's a whisper in heaven, when through the sky
The thunder booms out to the curlew's cry,
And through the clouds sweeps a dissonant wail,
When the levin-bolt hisses through sleet and hail.

3.

There's a voice, harsh and dread, in the womb of the earth
When it quakes at the shock of the Fire Spirit's birth:-
And Nature has tongues-yea, a thousand to tell
Of the mystic things in her world that dwell!

4.

The birds are her choicest interpreters,
And they chaunt her praises in choral airs;
And they anthem her glory, and hymn her name,
Till the glad echoes join in the vast acclaim.

5.

The insects that over the bright grass fleet,
Have notes that fall on the ear as sweet
As those perfume-sounds that from roses rise
When they take their last look of the sunny skies.

6.

And the flowers, those essences which the earth

Casts out, in her bounteousness of mirth,

Have each and all their fragrant sighs

To hallow bright nature's mysteries!

7.

Oh! then let man in the jubilee join,

Nor claim from the general glee assoine;

Let him lift his voice thro' the depths to him

Who gives speech to the mute, and sight to the dim!

THE THIRTY TUNES OF BARBUD

"One

Barbud was the favourite minstrel of the gay Khisroo Purwez King of Persia. His introduction to that King is related in the Shah Namah of Firdousee. It seems there was, in the Court of Khisroo, a musician named Surkush so famed for his skill that the nobles used to shower jewels on his head, and style him the "Glory of Excellence." Some of Barbud's friends told him, he was superior to Surkush, and advised him to go to Court; he did so, and Surkush hearing of his arrival, "his heart grew dark," and he induced the Royal Chamberlain to prevent his obtaining admission. Barbud retired in despair from the Royal gate and with a barbiton in his hand, went to the King's garden, and "swore a perpetual friendship" with the gardener, a man named Murdoee, whose acquaintance was indeed useful in as much as the great King was accustomed, at the feast of the Nowroz, to spend a couple of weeks in these gardens, and the gardener perchance might consent to admit Barbud on this joyous anniversary. Accordingly the minstrel began by flattering our Persian Andrew Fairservice. would assert," he remarked "that thou art the soul, and I the body! Gratify me by fulfilling the only wish my heart is able to conceive, and when the Shah comes to these gardens, allow me to conceal myself and view not only the feasts but likewise the countenance of the King." The gardener assented, and when next Khisroo Purwez came to the gardens, he hastened to inform Barbud, who immediately dressed himself in green clothes, and for the better concealment stained his barbiton and its strings green, and entering the garden climbed a tall cypress, distinguished by its large boughs crowded together like the spears of combatants, in the battle of Pushun*. He had not been long hidden in the tree before the Shah came and seated himself near the spot, and a fair-faced page handed him a chrystal goblet, stained scarlet with the rosy wine which glowed inside. Towards midnight, Barbud to the astonishment of the Shah and his attendants, began to sing from the cypress bough the song called Dadafreed. All present questioned each other on the subject, and Surkush in particular half fainting, guessed the truth, but remained silent. The Shah ordered his attendants to search on all sides for the musician; they did so but found no one; and Surkush flatteringly asserted he consi

The famous night attack of Peeran Wisah the Turkish leader on the Pawian camp under 100 G.

dered it probable that through Khisroo's fortune the roses and cypresses had been singing to pleasure his Majesty may the King live for ever! The page handed to the Shah a second cup of wine, and as soon as Khisroo grasped it, Barbud commenced a second song and chaunted the air called Pikari Goord (the warrior's strife,) whereat the delighted King drained the goblet, and commanded renewed search to be made through the garden. The attendants again sought on every side and waved their lamps underneath the trees, but they could distinguish nought save willows and cypresses, and partridges stepping gracefully among the rose-bushes. Khisroo called for a third goblet, and as he took it, Barbud a third time began to sing, giving voice to the air called Subz dur Subz (the evergreen). The Shah started on his feet and called for a goblet that held a quart of wine which he forthwith filled, and exclaimed. "This minstrel cannot be an angel, for, an angel is compounded of musk and amber; nor a Deeo, for, no Deeo could sing so well, and strike the strings so featly. Search right and left till you find the minstrel and I will fill his mouth and bosom with jewels, and make him the chief of my musicians." Barbud, on hearing these words, slid down the lofty cypress, and gracefully advancing bowed his head to the earth. "Who art thou?" asked the Shah. Barbud told his whole history, and the Shah was as happy to see him, as a garden is delighted when spring arrives, and turning to Surkush exclaimed. Thou, O wretch, art as bitter Coloquint, while Barbud is as sweet as Sugar; wert thou afraid no one would listen to thy songs, that thou preventedst his approaching me?" Saying which, the Shah continued to drain cups of wine, to the songs of Barbud; and when the assemblage broke up, he filled his mouth with pearls.*

66

Such is Firdousee's tale, and the Persian Dictionary called Boor Hani Qatiu informs us that Barbud composed 30 celebrated tunes the names of which are stated to be as follows.

This usage still exists, but the cheaper produce of the cane is substituted for that of the oyster; it is ludicrously introduced in Hadjee Baba, where the Shah causes his poet's mouth to be filled with sugar-candy till involuntary tears flow from his poetic eyes as fast as the sugar-candy distills through his hips!