But the caftle of Aladin appeared not to his view, nor beaten track that might direct his fteps. Inftead of thefe, he was furrounded by a rude foreft's fullen gloom, whofe foliage fcarce was pervious to the noontide ray, and whofe thick-entangling copfe covered the luxuriant ground.

The fword freshly reeking with the beldam's blood, was ftill naked in the adventurer's hand; and turning to the right with repeated ftrokes, he began to hew himself a paffage, in the feeble hope, that ere night he might regain the road. But delufive was the hope; for his ftrength was fpent ere the clofe of the evening had arrived, or the profpect appeared to his impatient eyes, where the boundaries of the foreft were prescribed.

Wrapped in his cloak, in a hollow cave, he passed the troubled night of fear; and languid he arofe with the morning beam, to renew, not his hopes, but his toils. He continued to prefs forward in the fame direction as on the preceding day, and ere the blaze of noon, when his ftrength again began to faint, he was revived by the profpect of the open road.

With quickening pace he advanced through the intervening copfe, and hailed his deliverance from the favage wilderness.. But gloomy rage was mixed with the bitterness of felf-reproach, and the good fortune of his elcape was forgotten, or unenjoyed, when, looking around, he found himfelf at the spot from which he had deviated on the preceding morn.

How oft,' he exclaimed, has difappointment and error thwarted and detained me in this fond purfuit. The demons of hell confpire againft my hopes, and blast the eager wishes of my foul; while, day after day, I renew my purfuit; and yet all is to begin again. Cheerlefs is the fate of Orafmin the accurft, and his hopes and his dofires are but the torments of his foul.

Yet once again, and no more, fhall the effort be tried; if happily the morrow may reveal the enchanted

caftle. Tremble then, Aladin, at the fury of my arm, for the hourie, and the talifman, may yet be mine: if not, hail dark refuge of despair.'

He faid, and advancing along the late-forfaken road, travelled onward till the clofe of day; when arriving at the threshold of a humble cottage, he knocked, and was welcomed to the homely repaft, and the refreshment of fecure repose.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ftrength of Orafmin being reftored under the hofpitable roof, he renewed his journey with the rising fun; and ere the vigour of the day was yet exhausted, he arrived at a fately caftle, which in fancy he hailed as the refidence of Aladin; the prifon of the beauteous hourie deftined to his arms; the rude cafket of the talifman of felicity he fo long had fought.

He feized the fonorous bugle that hung at the outer gate, and fwelling it with a furious blaft, challenged the impious champion to the fight.

The draw-bridge fell inftantly down. An enormous magician, drawn by two flaming dragons, came rushing from the portals, in his iron car, high brandishing his maffive club.

But the hourie, and the talisman feemed prefent to his fight, and the foul of the champion was undaunted. His guardian fhield he fupported cautious over his head, and his fword, of ethereal temper, he drew from its fhining fcabbard; while the giant fmiled with impotent contempt.

Furious was the combat; but its duration was fhort, for the fword of ethereal temper prevailed. Over the edge of the bone which connected the lower limbs of the necromancer, and formed the bafis of the enormous trunk, deep into the bowels entered the rending steel, and pierced the groaning monfter with a mortal wound. His enormous guards belched forth fire in vain, and threatened with their fcaly crefts. Shorn to the trunk, they fell expiring at the vic

tor's

tor's feet, and deluged the turf with blood.

The exulting conqueror now expected the utmoft gratification of his defires-the talisman of felicity, and the nymph with immortal charms; and, with a victor's voice, he demanded the place where the captive and her dower were contained.

Not here,' exclaimed the expiring magician, and triumphed in his difappointment- not here fhall the prize be found. This is not the prifon where the hourie groans, nor is Aladin the foe you have overthrown. Still furvives the prince of magic to laugh at the vain malice of thy foul. Go then, and perifh by thy prefumptuous folly, and the foul of Orufmundi shall be revenged.'

Rage and gloomy defpondency fhared the foul of Orafmin, and in the tumult of paffion, he blafphemed the Prophet and his God.

Nor, as his wrath fubfided, did reason resume its fway; for, yielding to defpair, he recalled the gloomy leffons of the dervife to his mind, and, mufing, flowly loitered on till the fun began to wane in the

west..

He paufed with a deep-drawn figh, and caft his glaring eyes around. The gloomy fcene accorded with his dreary mind; and wearied by the toils and difficulties he had encountered, and difgufted by the frequent difappointments of his hopes, prone on the earth, he threw himfelf beneath the fhade of a fpreading cypress, and relinquished for ever the purfuit.

A fcanty rivulet murmured at his feet, whofe mazy courfe was concealed by the gloom of furrounding foliage; the interfecting fprays created an artificial night; the bird of eve moaned in the fhady retreat; dark defpondency fighed through all the fombre scene.

The fadness of the furrounding objects was contrafted by the gaiety of the dilant profpect; for through a fmall avenue between the trees, the vallie and distant hills fmiled with a

gayer verdure, and the varied landfcape glowed with the defcending fun.

But turn, O my foul!' exclaimed the difgufted Orafmin, turn from the delufive fcene: let the philofophy of experience compofe my wearied fpirits, and teach me to despise the idle vanity of hope.'

He clofed his weary eyes with the gloomy fentence, and fain would have hut out the remembrance of the past, together with the allurements of the distant scene.

As thus he was endeavouring to banish reflection, he found himself, on a fudden, tranfported to the gloomy fpot, where he had left the desponding dervife, to retrace the devious way; and, looking around, he beheld the venerable fage approaching. Still more awful was the melancholy of his lock and mien; and the impreffions of veneration, infpired by the majestic feverity of his deportment, were heightened by the additional appearance of two fable wings, over-fhadowing his fhoulders, and cafting a dark hue around. A glass of turbid liquid, and an ebon wand, were fupported in his adverse hands.

Mortal! thou beholdeft me now in my proper character,' exclaimed the venerable genius to Orasmin, the offspring of melancholy experience, and the genius, or inftructor of all terreftrial wisdom. It is by me that the mafk of enthufiaftic delufion is ftripped from the vanity of fallacious hope. It is I, who, when attended by the experienced pupil, impede the gilding rays of deceitful light, and reveal to the eyes of the philofophic fage, the alluring objects of this flattering world, in their proper fhadows of weariness and disgust.

Say, has not experience enforced the former leffons of thefe lips? Repenteft not thou the efforts, which have wafted thy youthful ftrength?

Be wife then, O mortal! and be deluded no more. Fly the idle vanity of deception and error. Torment thyfelf no longer with unavailing exI i2

ertions,

ertions, nor fatigue thyfelf in queft of that rumoured felicity, which fate has forbidden to the race of man. Since the vifions of hope end but in the perturbations of difappoinment, it is time thy eyes were opened to the light of truth.

Drink then of the cup which my friendship has prepared, and thofe perturbations fhall be felt no more. No more fhall thy imagination be cheated by the illufions of hope; nor fhall the vanity of expectation expofe thee to disappointment.'

The genius then prefented the goblet to Orafmin, who fwallowed, with melancholy deliberation, the fatal draught.

Inftant were the effects of the benumbing poifon. The cheerlefs fcene affumed a fill more gloomy afpe&t; the verdure of the impervious foreft faddened in his view; the herbage withered; the perpendicular rocks frowned with a darker horror, and the lowering fky was involved in gathering mists.

The frame of Orafmin fympathized with the change: the ftrength and vigour of his limbs relaxed; the rofe of health faded from his youthful cheek; and loft to his languid fenfes were the powers and perceptions of delight. Anxiety and languor fhared the dominion of his mind; and though his fickening foul loathed every furrounding object, he had neither motive nor inclination to quit the dreadful scene.

CHAPTER VII.

THUS, exanimate by the deadly potion, lay Orafmin on the earth, refigned to the dominion of defpair, when a fudden radiance illumined the retreat; the fcene where he had reclined himself was reftored to his view, and a genius of more benignant appearance fhone confpicuous before him. In the radiant vifion, he inftantly recognized the celeflial meTenger who had firft prompted, and who had ftimulated his purfuit. But the gloomy poifon had annihi

• What deemeft thou, vain man, is the blefling not worth the price? Is not the enjoyment increafed by the labour wherewith it is attained? Shall fhort-fighted man arraign the conduct of Omnipotence-or deem that mifery is the lot of humanity, because, wandering, rebellious, from the path prefcribed, he fhuns the bounteous bleffings he might have clafped, or too purblind to penetrate the defigns of providence, he fees not the means by which felicity is to be fecured?

Say, which of the difafters into which thou haft been plunged, has not been the felf-willed confequence of thy disobedience and folly? Thy path to thy wishes had been cheerful and fhort, hadft thou followed by the course prescribed; but fuch is ever the fate of the prefumptuous man, who would be wifer than Omniscience itself, and, in the pride of human confidence, neglects the directions of celeftial wisdom.

The magician that fell by thy hand, was he not the general enemy of mankind? And, if thou repinest that thy felicity was awhile fufpended, that the great ends of benevolence might be advanced, know that even thy own happiness demanded of thy hand, that the oppreffor fhould first

be

But the vifion was too fatally fulTM filled. The fun had defcended below the western horizon, and the damps of the evening had unnerved his careless limbs. His feet, when he would have rifen, refused to fupport his weight; and he funk, helplels, by the fide of the stream, unable to reach the caftle, which was in reality in view, or to remove himself from the noxious glade.

Such,' fays the recording fage, is the folly of that pretended wifdom, which would involve in cheerless gloom the human mind. By fruitless repining we are prevented from making the exertions effential to fuccefs; and, by difcarding hope, we realize the idle vifions of despair.

Go then, ye youthful candidates for the palm of blifs! purfue, with unabated ardour, the objects of your virtuous defires. Know that Hope is the blooming hourie the adventurer fhould wed, and that the talisman of felicity is to be found in her arms.

E

DWARD CHRISTIAN de KLEIST, a famous German poet, and a foldier of diftinguished bravery, was born at Zeblin, in Pomerania, in 1715. At nine years of age he was fent to pursue his ftudies at Cron, in Poland and he afterward ftudied at Dantzick and Koningberg, Having finished his ftudies, he went to vifit his relations in Denmark, who invited him to fettle there; and having in vain endeavoured to obtain preferment in the law, at twenty-one years of age he accepted of a poft in the Danish army. He then applied himself to the study of all the fciences that have a relation to military affairs, with the fame affiduity as he had before ftudied civil law. in 1740, at the beginning of the reign of Frederic IH, king of Pruflia, Mr. de Kleift went to Berlin, and was prefented to his majefty, who made him lieutenant of his brother

prince Henry's regiment; and he was in all the campaigns which diftinguished the five firft years of the king of Pruffia's reign. In 1749, he obtained the poft of captain; and in that year published his excellent poem on the Spring. Before the breaking out of the laft war, the king chofe him, with fome other officers at Potfdam, companion to the young prince Frederic William of Pruffia, and to eat at his table. In the first campaign, in 1756, he was nominated major of Haufen's regiment; which being in garrifon at Leipfic, he had time to finish feveral new poems.

After the battle of Rofbach, the king gave him, by an order in his own hand-writing, the infpection of the great hofpital eftablished at Leipfic. And on this occafion has humanity was celebrated by the fick and wounded of both parties, and his difinterestedness was equally

admired

admired by all the inhabitants of that city. In 1758, prince Henry coming to Leipfic, Mr. Kleift defired to ferve in his army with the regiment of Haufen, which was readily granted. Opportunities of diftinguishing himfelf could not be wanting under that great officer, and, he always communicated his courage to the battalion under his command. He alfo ferved that prince at the beginning of the campaign of 1759, when he was with him in Franconia, and in all the expeditions of that army, till he was detached with the troops under general de Fink, to join the king's army. On the 12th of Auguft, was fought the bloody battle of Kunerfdorf, in which he fell. He attacked the flank of the Ruffians, and affifted in gaining three batteries. In these bloody attacks he received twelve contufions; and the two firft fingers of his right hand being wounded, he was forced to hold his fword in the left. His poft of major obliged him to remain behind the ranks; but he no fooner perceived the commander of the battalion wounded and carried away, than he inftantly put himself at the head of his troop. He led his battalion in the midit of the terrible fire of the enemy's artillery, against the fourth battery. He called up the colours of the regiment; and, taking an enfign by the arm, led him on. Here he received a ball in his left arm; when, being no longer able to hold his fword in his left hand, he took it again in the right, and held it with the two laft fingers and his thumb. He ftill pushed forward, and was within thirty fteps of the battery, when his right leg was fhattered by the wadding of one of the great guns; and he fell from his horfe, crying to

his men, My boys, do not abandon your king.' By the affiftance of thofe who furrounded him, he endeavoured twice to remount his horfe; but his ftrength forfook him, and he fainted. He was then carried behind the line ; where a furgeon, attempting to drefs his wounds, was fhot dead. The Coffacs arriving foon after, stripped Mr. de Kleist naked, and threw him into a miry place; where fome Ruffian huffars found him in the night, and laid him upon fome ftraw near the fire of the grand guard, covered him. with a cloak, put a hat on his head, and gave him fome bread and water. In the morning, one of them offered him a piece of filver, which he refufed; on which he toffed it upon the cloak that covered him, and then departed with his companions. Soon after the Coffacs returned, and took all that the generous huffars had given him. Thus he again lay naked on the earth; and in that cruel fituation continued till noon, when he was known by a Ruffian officer, who caufed him to be conveyed in a waggon to Frankfort on the Oder; where he arrived in the evening, in a very weak ftate, and was inftantly put into the hands of the furgeons. But the fractured bones feparating, broke an artery, and he died by the loss of blood. The city of Frankfort being then in the hands of the enemy, they buried this Pruffian hero with all military honours: the governor, a great number of the Ruffian officers, the magiftrates of the city, with the profeffors and the ftudents, formed the proceffion, preceded by the funeral mufic. Mr. de Kleift's poems, which are greatly admired, are elegantly printed in the German tongue, in two volumes 8vo.

of perfons, as it is the foundation, and in a manner the foul, of every public office and employment. Hence it was that Ariftides, though in low circumstances, and of mean extraction,

obtained