knights successively with the Tilneys of Norfolk, or, with the Nauntons, show where their ancestors had seven hundred pounds a year before the Conquest, yet he hath endeavoured, by his own deserts, to ennoble himself. Thus valour makes him son to Cæsar; learning entitles him kinsman to Tully; and piety reports him nephew to godly Constantine." CHAP. VII. A FABLE. THE STORY OF ALNASCHAR. THE FABLE AND STORY OF UNIVERSAL APPLICATION. A TALE FROM THEOCRITUS.- PRED SHERBOURNE. THE CHARACTER OF HIS FATHER. - FRED'S EXPECTATIONS. -INTENDS TO LEAD THE LIFE OF A GENTLEMAN. COMMENCES GENTLEMANSHIP. THE OBJECT OF ENVY AMONG HIS COMPANIONS. THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER. HIS DISAPPOINTMENT. RESOLVES TO LEAVE ROSE COTTAGE TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE. MY PARTING ADVICE TO HIM. -BECOMES A BANKRUPT.-PLACED IN A COUNTING-HOUSE.-HIS REGRET.-LINES ON CONTENTMENT. FABLE relates, that "One evening, as a simple swain The shining bow he chanced to spy, This bumpkin had it seems been told Which fame reports is to be found Just where the rainbow meets the ground; To seize the goblet and be rich; Hoping, yet hopes are oft but vain, No more to toil through wind and rain, 'Midst ease and plenty, like a squire. On which the rainbow seem'd to stand, At last, through many a bog and lake, Approach'd, then vanish'd in his sight, With naught but labour for his pains."- WILKIE. In eastern story there is also this tale, whereby men may be warned from building castles in the air. Alnaschar, the story relates, was an idle fellow, who would not set his hand to any business during the lifetime of his father. When his father died he left him the value of one hundred drachmas in Persian money, and Alnaschar, in order to make the best of it, laid it out in glass and the finest earthenware. He piled these up in a large basket, and having made choice of a small shop, he placed the basket at his feet in expectation of customers. While waiting, he fell into an amusing train of thought, and was overheard by one of his neighbours to talk to himself thus: "This basket cost me, at the wholesale merchant's, one hundred drachmas, which is all I have in the world. By selling it in retail I shall quickly make two hundred of it. These two hundred drachmas will in a little time rise to four hundred, which in time will amount to four thousand. Four thousand drachmas cannot fail of making eight thousand. As soon as by this means I am master of ten thousand, I will lay aside my trade as a glassman, and turn jeweller: I will deal in diamonds, pearls, and all sorts of rich stones. When I have got together as much wealth as I can desire, I will make a purchase of the finest house I can find, with land, slaves, eunuchs, and horses. I shall then begin to enjoy myself, and to make a figure in the world. I will not, however, stop there, but continue to traffic till I have heaped up one hundred thousand drachmas. When master of this sum I will set myself on the footing of a prince, and will demand the daughter of the Grand Vizier in marriage, after having first represented to him the information which I have received of the beauty, wit, discretion, and other noble qualities which his daughter possesses. I will let him know at the same time that it is my intention to make him a present of a thousand pieces of gold on the marriage night. As soon as we are married I will buy my princess ten black eunuchs, the youngest and the finest that can be obtained for money. Afterwards I will visit my father-in-law with a great train and equipage, and when I am placed at his right hand I will give him the pieces of gold which I promised him, and afterwards, in order to surprise him, I will present him with another purse of the same value, saying, as I present it, 'Sir, you see I am a man of my word; I always give more than I promise."" Alnaschar was absorbed in his vision, and his joy at the honours that awaited him were so great that he could not forbear leaping for happiness. Unfortunately, however, in his joyous leap, he struck his basket of brittle ware, which was the foundation of all his grandeur: its contents were broken into ten thousand pieces, and all his hopes vanished. The castles he had been building in the air were suddenly demolished by his own imprudence. The simple swain in the fable is not the only one who has sought the cup of gold at the point where the rainbow meets the ground; nor is Alnaschar, the Persian, the only one who has indulged in visions of wealth, honour, and greatness. The fable and the Eastern story are alike of universal application. In every age, and in every country, men are to be met with who dream of gold and glory. The Greek poet Theocritus, in his work entitled Idyllia, relates a beautiful tale exhibiting this passion of the human heart. He relates, that two old fishermen, Asphalion and his friend, had been sleeping "on the dry sea-weed," and that when they shook from their eyes "The sleepy dews They cheer'd their bosoms with an artless muse." Their muse thus discoursed: 66 Asphalion. Sure, friend, they lie who say the summer light "Friend. How vain to blame the summer sun's delay! The hours unvarying urge their destined way. 'Tis care that lengthens out the gloom more deep Asphalion. Pray, hast thou learn'd, my friend, the happy art He seems, my friend, the shrewdest judge of dreams We've ample time: here sleepless on a bed Of leaves, the billows gurgling round our shed, "Friend. Come, then, recite this vision to thy friend, Asphalion. When weary from our labours on the deep, - My stomach was not full, for supping late M |