of lilies, which, although the air felt somewhat cold, did not cease to pour forth a fragrant smell. The blossoms of the arbour also enchanted him with their odour; and the long tendrils of climbing plants, glittering with moisture, trembled at the least breath of wind. Nakoonar was visited with the remembrance of his earlier days, when the passion of love had visited him for the first time, and made the blood tingle in his veins with a sweetness to which he had for a long time been a stranger. A total silence pervaded the garden as well as the house, which was quite near. The walls were white, and reflected the moonshine strongly. The lowest row of windows was not more than a yard from the ground. While Nakoonar sat looking and listening, one of the sashes was thrown open, and the beautiful Safie put out her head cautiously, as if to see whether any person was there. Finding that nothing stirred, she withdrew. Her mind was probably in a state of sanguine restlessness and expectation, which would not allow her to suppose that any thing could detain her lover, although she had not heard from him, and which overcame her with sweet throes of tenderness, intermingled with anxiety. Shortly afterwards she appeared a second time. She leant out over the roses which grew beside the window, and listened attentively. In the meantime, Nakoonar had an opportunity of observing the beauty of her neck, which was very white and smooth, and of her cheek, which did not appear to have much red, but only a gentle and modest crimson, set off by two or three dark curls. Her bands were also very white; and it grieved Nakoonar to consider the roughness of the stone before her, which, in her thoughtfulness, she was grasping and rubbing unconsciously. Cruel and unworthy wretch! whose mind was, at the same time, filled with the most sinister intentions. When she could not hear any steps, she opened the window a little more. At this juncture, the cunning magician made a rattling with the bridle of his horse; and the idea occurred to her, that perhaps her lover was not far off, but, owing to the negligence or stupidity of her slave, had not been instructed how to lift the latch of a certain wicket. This idea came, and went, and came again. Could she venture out at the window? No, no, no. Only a few steps? No, no. Yet there was no great impropriety. She would immediately return; and by the time he had unfastened the wicket, she would be safe within the window. So she reasoned, and found, that, in her present mood, she could not withdraw contentedly and go to sleep. She endeavoured to remember the advices of the holy dervis; but they passed over her mind without bringing back good resolutions. The fair Safie, believing that no eye observed her, put forth her slender foot upon a stone seat beneath the window, and took what might be called a very improper step, of which she soon felt the consequences. Nakoonar, perceiving that all obstacles were remov ed, got hold of her immediately. He mounted his horse, and away they flew. CHAP. IV.-Shakrak falls in with the Gentleman with the Six Horns.-He again sees his Mistress. In the meantime, Shakrak having spent the whole day in a most disconsolate manner, without tasting any food, except a few dates which were brought him by the magician, resolved, when night came on, to make a second attempt to escape. He accordingly passed once more through the jaws of the monster, and repaired to the stable, but found the horse gone. Upon opening the door at which Nakoonar had knocked on a former occasion, he found it led into another suite of apartments, which probably served Nakoonar as a workshop for carrying on the different branches of his art. They were tuli of very extraortinary articles. In the last room, Shakrak found the gentleman with the six horns pounding at a huge mortar, and venting, from time to time, lamentable groans and complaints against the absent magician; for, by means of spells, he had been forced to become Nakoonar's servant, and was kept very closely at work. VOL. 6.] Shakrak and the Magician. 477 No sooner did he perceive Shakrak, it would be best to leave her to repose for some time; and accordingly, having laid her gently upon a sofa, he went away, locking the door after him. than, throwing down his pestle, he ran to detain him. "My dear friend," said the evil genius, "you see how I am used. Whatever may be Nakoonar's politeness to me before company, I can assure you that in private he treats me no better than a dog. I have worked to him for twenty years, and would fain escape from my bondage; which, if I had some assistance from others, I could easily accomplish. I know several of his talismanic secrets. I am an evil genius myself, no doubt, and many things therefore lie out of my reach; but if some holy and pious person could be introduced into this palace, and persuaded to act according to my directions, Nakoonar might be destroyed, much for the good of Constantinople." Perhaps," replied Shakrak, "my help might be somewhat in this matter; but how can I be sure of your sincerity ?" "Never doubt that," said the genius, striking his palm upon that of Shakrak with a loud noise. "Come along with me into a neighbouring apartment, and I shall give you convincing proofs." They proceeded into a fair chamber, spread with the richest carpets, and scented by orange trees and other plants, which grew in vases. It likewise contained many sofas and musical instruments, and was altogether a delightful place, but had no windows, and was lighted only by globular lamps, finely painted. "How do you like this?" asked the genius. "Exceedingly well," replied Shakrak. "Oh, the magician! the magician! I hear him coming!" cried the gentleman with the six horns, and was off in an instant, leaving poor Shakrak to creep under a sofa. Shakrak now peeped out. He saw his sweet mistress lying languidly, with her dark hair shaken out of her turban, and her silken robes disordered. The small ribbons which tied her sandals were half unloosed, and shewed that, before she made the fatal step out of the window, she had just been. preparing to retire to sleep. Now drooping with her tulip cheek over the sofa, she seemed slowly to recover the regu larity of her breathing, and uttered from time to time heavy sighs. It would be unnecessary to describe her astonishment, when the faithful Shakrak presented himself before her view. "Ah, my dear mistress!" said he," you know not what terrible things I have gone through since we parted. This is a magician's house; but do not despair, for I am here to guard you, and hope soon to accomplish our escape. The magician carried me off as I was going to Haslan with your letter." "Now I begin to understand my situation," said Safie. "What a frightful looking man that is, with his shaggy hair! Oh, Shakrak, you must certainly have been loitering, or doing something wrong, when you was carried off." "No, no," replied Shakrak, "I protest that I was doing nothing wrong. But where did the magician get hold of yon, madam ?" "We shall speak of that afterwards," replied Safie, blushing; and they entered into a conversation, in the course of which Shakrak related all that he knew, disclosing also what prospects had been held out to him by the gentleman with the six horns. "But, alas !" cried Shakrak, "although this room is beautifully decorated, I perceive it is a prison, from which there is no other outlet except the door, of which the magician has the key; and I can do nothing while I remain here." So saying, he knocked loudly at the door, and then hid himself under a sofa. Safie did not perceive the meaning of this; but presently Nakoonar en tered, and came up to her with as sweet an expression of countenance as he could assume, saying, "Fair lady, behold your humblest slave. This palace is yours, with all its delights; and you see before you one who would rather follow your steps on all fours, walking, than be admitted at once to the third heaven." "Impious and abominable man!" cried Safie, "how dare you come near me? Are you not ashamed to use this language to her whom you have so cruelly snatched away from her friends? Your appearance testifies that you cannot be far from sixty, an age at which there is no longer any excuse for wanton outrages: nevertheless, you conduct yourself like a green and giddy reprobate. I am sure your head exhibits gray hairs enough to make you pass for a dervis or a philosopher." "Ah, madam!" cried Nakoonar, kneeling, "you see what a plilosopher I am." "Begone, for I wish to repose myself," cried Safie, who now perceived that Shakrak had crept out of the room unobserved. "For what purpose did you make such a noise lately?" asked Nakoonar. "I know nothing about these noises," replied Safie. "It must have been some of your own wicked genii; from whom, as well as yourself, I trust that our holy Prophet will defend me. In the mean time, you would oblige me very much by retiring, and locking the door after you." "Sweet lady," replied Nakoonar, "I will obey; but you must ultimately have pity on me" And accordingly he withdrew. CHAP. V.-Nakoonar prepares an Exhibition for Safie. NAKOONAR, in coming away, heard some stir in the stable of the wooden horse, and was proceeding in that direction, when he was stopped by the six-horned genius, who wished to have bis directions about mixing certain preparations in the workshop. Nakoonar went to look at the mortar. Find ing that very little had been pounded, he turned furiously round upon the ge nius, and asked him what he had been doing for two hours. The genius replied, sheepishly, that he had been working as hard as he could; whereupon Nakoonar, taking the pestle out of his hands, belaboured him dreadfully, and concluded by knocking off three of his horns. This was too much to be endured, and the spirit sternly folded his arms, muttering threats of revenge. "Let me have no sulkiness," cried Nakoonar, " else you shall fare worse than you have done. Bestir yourself, and decorate the banqueting-room as superbly as possible. Spread forth my talismans upon the table, and prepare my books; for there is a fair lady before whom I wish to make a grand display of my art. I shall grudge no pains to please her. As for you, make your outside as decent as possible, and be ready to execute whatever I may command. To improve my appearance, I think I shall lay aside my us ual safeguard of the enchanted doublet, and shall content myself with the staff of cedar which I received from the old magician who now lives in retirement among the ruins of Dendera." So saying, he retired. The genius, still smarting with his wounds, went immediately to the wardrobe, where the staff of cedar was kept, and deposited another in its place. CHAP. VI.-Shakrak gets the Assistance of a der vis.-Safie is rescued. In the mean time, Shakrak, having mounted the wooden horse, shot boldly down into Constantinople. It was now day-light; and his first care was to find Haslan, the lover of Safie, who,. after a short explanation with the panting and perspiring slave, mounted before him. Such persons as were abroad at that early hour stood gazing at the strange machine ; and when it rose again, they saluted it with loud huzzas. The two riders, however, where determined to have a third, namely, the holy dervis Noodlegander, who had placed an amulet in Safie's apartment. Upon repairing to the street where he lived, they found the venerable old man seated before his door, reading the Al VOL. 6.] coran. He was extremely thick-sight- covered with fine velvet, upon which ed, and also obtuse in his hearing, so were spread various jewels and curiosithat they could not make him under- ties. "Oh ho!" cried the dervis," I stand what they wanted. Neverthe- perceive there are talismans here: we less, at their solicitations, the venera- must secure these in the first place." ble old man, who was so completely And he accordingly put the whole in sacred that nothing could come amiss his pocket. to him, tucked his Koran under his arm, and mounted without hesitation. He felt quite at home every where, because he knew himself to be incapable of receiving any hurt; and accordingly the wooden horse ascended with its three riders. When they were about half way from Nakoonar's house, the venerable old man put his hand gently upon Haslan's shoulder, and said, “ My good friend, what is the meaning of this haste? Beware of the left side of the road, for I think I perceive a ditch there." "Never fear," replied Haslan; "we are far above every thing of that sort. We want you to assist us against a great magician." "Music is a lascivious art," replied the dervis, shaking his head. "I never assist in these things." "I do not say musician," replied Haslan. "He is a great necromancer." "Romances are worse," said the dervis, shaking his head a second time. "Reverend father, you mistake me," said Haslan. "I mean a great sorcerer." "Oh ho! a sorcerer !" cried the dervis. "My eyes have much failed me of late, but you shall see presently what an old man can do. To me a sorcerer is as pleasant as a hare to a greyhound." They landed on the platform, and passed through the stable, where the wooden grooms fell prostrate, as the dervis hobbled past with his Koran. According to the direction which Shakrak had received, they proceeded forthwith to the banquetting-room, where they beheld the utmost splendour of decoration. In one corner sat the evil genius, burning with rage and shame for the loss of his horns. He could scarcely look Shakrak in the face, but seemed rejoiced at their arrival. In the middle of the room stood a table At this juncture Nakoonar rushed into the room, flashing fire from his eyes, and uttering frightful imprecations. He lifted up what he supposed to be his cedar staff, and made a tremendous blow at the dervis, who very coolly warded it off with an old pair of spectacles. The staff flew in pieces. Nakoonar being thus deprived of all personal power, was running to open a great iron door, and let loose his monster upon them, when the evil genius took hold of him, and threw him headlong from a window. His revenge was accomplished, and he disappeared. They now repaired joyfully to the orange-tree apartment, where Safie was confined. They found her asleep, with the roses mantling in her cheeks. She was muttering something about stepping out from a window by moonlight; and when Haslan. touched her, she screamed and awoke. The utmost congratulations passed among all the parties; and the good-natured dervis promised to give a hint to the parents of the young people. Shakrak would fain have been allowed to carry away the wooden horse for his own use; but to this the dervis would by no means consent, quoting a certain adage, which it is unnecessary here to repeat. They left Nakoonar's house by a great staircase which led down to the street; and next morning the dervis having revisited it, with the cadis of the district, had all the unlawful implements and monsters consumed and killed, which was a dreadful business for those who were engaged in it. But after these things were accomplished, there remained some very pretty apartments, ready for the reception of Safie and her husband. SAMUEL ROGERS, ESQ. Extracted from the New Monthly Magazine, December 1819. Oh, could my mind, unfolded in my page, Oh, could it still, through each succeeding year, Still hold communion with the wise and just !--- SU The Muses have been characterized as ranking in their train rather abilities than property, rather genius than riches. Our present subject forms a distinguished exception. Born of wealthy parents, the son of a banker of the city of London, nursed in the lap of ease, himself following the same lucrative profession as his father, Mr. ROGERS indulges his powers as a mean of amusement, as a gratification to himself,and to those who have the pleasure and the honour of his friendship. The advantages of such a situation are almost innumerable; the benefits of a liberal education, the opportunities for observation of life, in its various branches, for selecting a subject without restraint from opposing circum stances, for contemplating it in all its bearings, and for maturing those ideas by which it is expressed and illustrated. Genius unsupported pines under the inconveniencies of the res angusta domi: even Dryden was not proof against the hasty and unfinished verses imposed on him by necessity. Mr. Rogers has also enjoyed the blessings for such they are -derived from keeping the best company, from associating with those whose whole liberal turn of thinking was not only congenial with his own, but who conferred, while they received, improvement, by that interchange of ideas and conceptions, of observations and reflections, which not seldom affords the most valuable materials for subsequent consideration. We must add, also, the opportunities afforded by visiting the Continent, France, and Italy, one conquence of which he has given to the public in his "Lines written at Pæstum, March 14, 1815." But it is most likely that this gentleman's principal claim to rank, as a British poet, will be founded on his "Pleasures of Memory," which if we mistake not, first appeared in 1792, and his "Human Life," a lately issued performance. Perhaps the advantage of a happily chosen subject has seldom been more completely realised than in these; especially in the first of them: for, who is there, who does not call up associations of his younger days with an affection increasing as life is prolonged; who does not more or less resemble Goldsmith's Traveller, while increasing his distance from home, And drag at each remove a lengthen'd chain. The affectionate caresses bestowed on the opening mind, and the boyish form rising to graceful vigour, are recollected with an energy of mental delineation, that while it most strongly interests, most exquisitely delights. The place where, and the time when, the minor circumstances, with their less than minor accompaniments, dwell on the memory; and the man who does not realize again and again, in his elder years, that bounding of the heart which feebly expressed his pleasure, as his sire, or his grandsire, praised his youthful performances, and uttered predictions expressive of the most sanguine hopes, is less to be envied than old Argus, the dog of Ulysses, who recognised his master, and expired with the emotions oc⚫ casioned by the joy of seeing him again, after a tedious interval. What is it |