The Sultan's kindness this morning took its rise from quite another source.

Amorassan.-Is then the Sultan my friend no longer?

The Spirit. It is evident, that he is still your friend, since he endeavoured to entice you artfully into doing that, which otherwise he would have commanded. In truth, the wish to ensnare a person into doing any thing, is no proof of an honest or manly heart; but it proves at least, that the Sultan esteems the friend, loves the favourite, and wishes to preserve the Grand-Vizir.

Amorassan. And what then was it, that the Sultan was abont to propose?

The Spirit. He ardently desired to entice you into consenting, that the place of ChiefCadi should be given to a certain Ebu-Beker, whose father formerly possest it.

Amorassan. And your appearance prevented me from giving this so much-wished consent? Fatal being! you have deprived me of one of the happiest moments of my existence.

The Spirit.-Nothing is more probable; but that is no concern of mine! I have done my duty, and only done it, because it was my duty: if you found pain in it, I found no pleasure, for pleasure and pain are alike to me.

Amorassan.-Oh! had you not appeared ....had I but followed the emotions of my heart! This Ebu-Beker is my mortal enemy; I know well the plans, which he has laid for my destruction; I would have made every thing known to the Sultan, I would have shown him, how deadly the man hates me; I would have pointed out to him the personal dangers, to which his elevation would expose me; and then I would have fallen at the feet of my friend, and told him-" and all these considerations do I sacrifice to your wish! Let Ebu-Beker occupy the wished-for place; not that station alone, but my own would I surrender to him with good will, could it afford my sovereign the slightest gratification. Let Ebu-Beker still be my enemy;

Amorassan shall henceforth be his friend, since Ibrahim values him!"-But now, instead of this, when the Sultan's heart was open.. when his kindness was so warm

...

.... to repulse him by my chilling air.... to make him so naturally believe, that I guessed his wish, and prepared myself to counteract it.... away from my presence, thou cold insensible Spirit! I hate thee!

The Spirit.-Indeed? Already? But as you please! I expect no other reward from men. And have you then forgotten the secret character of this Ebu-Beker, to whom you are so ready to resign your station, and with it the care of the happiness of Guzurat? Is he not avaricious, luxurious, envious, cruel, and malignant? Are not his principles, his views, his plans of government, exactly the reverse of yours? You would have told the Sultan, that he is your mortal enemy? Think you, that this is not already known to the Sultan? Were he ignorant that Ebu-Beker hates and has injured you, and that you have reason to hate Ebu-Beker,

would he have endeavoured by an artifice to ensnare you into consenting to his elevation? However in what regards the resignation of your own station to him, respecting that step you need be in no haste: let him only obtain the place of Chief Cadi, which is now his object, and that of Grand Vizir will soon follow it.

Amorassan.-Of Grand Vizir? Ebu-Beker Grand Vizir ?

The Spirit.-Infallibly-unless indeed you adopt the courtier's policy, and destroy your rival before he has time to destroy you.

Amorassan.Is it even so? nay, then the Sultan's affections must be totally withdrawn from me, and from this moment I have nothing more left to care for. I never made but two requests to Allah: the first, to retain Ibrahim's friendship; the second, to make him happy through his people, and his people happy through him. The loss of my power could only grieve me, if Guzurat and its monarch should lose under my successor those advantages which they have acquired

under me, and those which I hoped they would acquire still further-but the loss of Ibrahim's friendship......

The Spirit.-Said I, that you have lost it? No; you possess it still; will still possess it.. ..even when he bestows your station on your rival. The Sultan himself will lament the necessity, which occasions your fall: he will shed more tears at parting, than yourself, and those tears will be sincere he will regret your absence, will miss your society with every hour of the day... . . .

Amorassan.-And yet will part with me? The Spirit. And yet will part with you .... for Ebu-Beker will have it so.

Amorassan.-Ebu-Beker? can the coldhearted, malignant, unfeeling Ebu-Beker, he who is unable to sympathize with one of the generous Ibrahim's emotions, can be possess such influence over the Sultan's heart....

The Spirit. Of the Sultan's heart he possesses no share, and never will possess any: but he is the master of that which often has