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exceeded the most But I soon

romantic of my expectations. discovered, that no dainty was so tasteful as the food to which labour-procured an appetite; no stumbers so sweet as those which weariness invited; and no time so well enjoyed as that in which diligence is expecting its reward, I remembered these enjoyments with regret ; and while I was sighing in the midst of superfluities, which, though they encumbered life, yet I could not give up, they were suddenly taken away. Almalic, in the midst of the glory of his kingdom, and in the full vigour of his life, expired suddenly in the bath,

His son, Aububekir, who succeeded to the throne, was incensed against me, by some who regarded me at once with contempt and envy; he suddenly withdrew my pension, and commanded that I should be expelled the palace ; a command which my enemies executed with so much rigour, that within twelve hours I found myself in the streets of Medina, indigent and friendless, exposed to hunger and derision, with all the habits of luxury, and all the sensibility of pride. I have travelled from Medina to Mecca; but I cannot flee from myself. How different are the conditions in which I have been placed! The remembrance of both is bitter; for the pleasures of neither can return,-Hassan, having thus ended his story, smote his hands together; and looking upward, burst into tears,

Omar, having waited till his agony was past, went to him, and taking him by the hand, My son, said he, more is yet in thy power than Almalic could give, or Aububekir take away,

Thou wast once content with poverty and labour, only because they were become habitual, and ease and affluence were placed beyond thy hope: for, when ease and affluence approached thee, thou wast content with poverty and labour no more. That which then became the object, was also the bound of thy hope; and he whose utmost hope is disappointed, must inevitably be wretched. If thy supreme desire had been the delights of Paradise, and thou hadst believed that by the tenor of thy life these delights had been secured, as more could not have been given thee, thou wouldst not have regretted that the less was not offered.

Depart, therefore, and be thankful for all things; put thy trust in Him who alone can gratify the wish of reason, and satisfy thy soul with good; fix thy hope upon that portion, in comparison of which the world is as the drop of the bucket, and the dust of the balance. Return, my son, to thy labour; thy food shall again be tasteful, and thy rest shall be sweet; to thy content also will be added stability, which depends not upon that which is possessed upon earth, but upon that which is expected in Heaven.

Peace now dawned upon the mind of Hassan, like the radiance of the morning: he returned to his labour with cheerfulness; his devotion became fervent and habitual; and the latter days of Hassan were happier than the first.

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Noble Behaviour of Scipio.

SCIPIO the younger, at twenty-four years of age, was appointed by the Roman republic to the command of the army against the Spaniards. Soon after the conquest of Carthagena, the capital of the empire, his integrity and virtue were put to the following exemplary and ever-memorable trial, related by historians, ancient and modern, with universal applause. Being retired into his camp, some of his officers brought him (as a slave) a woman of such exquisite beauty, that she drew upon her the eyes and admiration of every body. The young conqueror started from his seat, with confusion and surprise; and seemed to be robbed of that presence of mind, and self-possession, so necessary in a general, and for which -Scipio was very remarkable. a few moments, having recovered himself, he enquired of the beautiful captive, in the most civil and affable manner, concerning her country, birth, and connexions; and finding that she was betrothed to a Celtiberian prince, named Allucius, he ordered both him and the

In

captive's parents to be sent for. When the Spanish prince appeared in his presence, Scipio took him aside; and to remove the anxiety, he might feel on account of the young lady, addressed him in these words:" You and I are young, which admits of my speaking to you with freedom. They who brought me your future spouse, assured me at the same time, that you loved her with extreme tenderness; and her beauty and merit left me no room to doubt it. Upon which, I reflected, that if I were in your situation, I should hope to meet with favour: I there fore think myself happy, in the present con juncture, to do you a service. Though the fortune of war has made me your master, I desire to be your friend. Here is your wife: take her, and may you be happy! You may rest assured, that she has been amongst us, as she would have been in the house of ber father and mother. Far be it from Scipio to purchase any pleasure at the expense of virtue, honour, and the happiness of an honest man! No; I have kept her for you, in order to make you a present worthy of you and me. The only gratitude I require of you, for this inestimable gift, is, that you will be a friend to the Roman people." Allucius's heart was too full to make him any answer; but throwing himself at the general's feet, he wept aloud: the captive lady fell down in the same posture,

and remained so, till the aged father, overwhelmed with transports of joy, burst into the following words: "O excellent Scipio! Heaven has given thee more than human virtue. O glorious leader! O wondrous youth! what pleasure can equal that which must now fill thy heart, on hearing the prayers of this grateful virgin, for thy health and prosperity?” Such was the conduct of Scipio, a heathen! nor was his virtue unrewaided. Allucius, charmed with such greatness of mind, and true generosity, returned to his own country, and published, on all occasions, the praises of his generous and humane victor; crying out, "that there was come into Spain a young hero, who conquered all things less by the force of his arms, than by the charms of his virtue, and the greatness of his beneficence."

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Virtue rewarded,

IN the preceding story, we have seen an illustrious instance of virtue in a person of exalted rank. This exhibits an equally striking example of uprightness in humble life. Virtue and goodness are confined to no station : and wherever they are discovered, they command respect.

Perrin, the amiable subject of this narrative, lost both his parents before he could pronounce