He did not dream of oppofing their growing love, under the pretence that Tifan was a Prince, and Tilia the daughter of a poor peafant. Tilia, indeed, was as amiable as a child of nature could well be. A particular fympathy, which had displayed itself in them from their infancy, feemed to prove that they were deftined to make each other happy. Genghis did not fail to take advantage of this inclination in his adopted fon, to bring to maturity the effects of that fimple but fublime philofophy which he had hitherto been inculcating. He explained to Tifan, in the most friendly difcourfe, the new fenfations which then affected him. He made him obferve the voice of Nature, which invited him to fulfil an effential part of his deftination, and he showed him the refpect able and affecting duties which are infeparable from it. Tifan became a husband without ceafing to be a lover; he became a father; and as he preffed to his bofom the firft-fruits of a virtuous love, he found that even in the arms of the lovely Tilia, he had not yet experienced the fine emotions of his nature.

It has been long ago obferved, that the ftate of rapture into which a first love throws an ingenuous foul, exa'ts it far above the pitch of ordinary humanity; and it feems probable, that certain fages of antiquity have hence been led to confider love as a fort of Genius which opens in the foul new views of the beautiful and the good, and which citablishes a fort of immediate intercourfe between it and the Deity. This much at least is certain, that in the fpecies of enchantment occafiqued by a pure paflion, we experience a much greater fenfibility for the beautiful, a keener disposition to the exercife of every virtue, a higher degree of univerfal fynpathy, a more than ordinary inclination for what is elevated and grand, together with more vait and fublime ideas: it would, therefore, appear, that no period can be more favourable for impreffing upon the young mind a fenfe of the Supreme Being.

Genghis must have been of the fame opinion; for he chofe this precife time to inYpire his pupil with pure and fublime notions of religion. He thought there neceflary for procuring to the foul a fure anchor of hope, to the paffions a fufficient counterpoife, and to virtue the most invincible attraction. As God is the univerfal benefactor, aid Genghis, the wife legiflator and governor, the fovereign good and final end of all created beings, let us enjoy his benefits with gratitude, and obey his laws with fincerity; for fuch is the only fervice which we can render to a Being who has no need of us, but in fo far as he has created us to be the inftruments of his sublime and benevolent defigns.

3 G

VOL. XIV. No. 83.

The grandeur and elevation to which Genghis found himself obliged to raife the conceptions of his pupil, led him at the fame time to give him a distinct idea of focial life, of what is called a great fate, of its conftitution, its civil policy and government. This he performed; and after having fhewn the young Tifan how this ball of earth ought to be governed, according to the juft laws of nature and the deftination of man, he made him comprehend how it in fact happens to be otherwife than it ought to be. Setting out from the intuitive idea of the fall colony in which he had paffed his days, Genghis conducted him ftep by ep to the complicated idea of a great monarchy. He made him pafs from the father of a little rural family to the cominoa father of Chechian. The prince followed him without difficulty in all his inftructions: but he could not fo easily be made to conceive how the common father of a nation could become a defpot, or how a defpot, with an inconfiderable change, could become a tyrant. He was also not a little furprised to hear, that the charming ideas of innocent men and a golden age, which had grown up with him, were nothing but pleafing dreams from which a fhort journey into the world would awaken him. Genghis thought fuch a journey now very neceffary, in order to procure the prince a complete and practical idea of the prevailing abufes and diforders, especially as he might foon be called to put a period to them, at least in a confiderable part of the world.

However painful it was for Tifan to tear himself from the arms of his wife and his child, his impatience to fee the world prevailed over these tender emotions of nature. Accordingly he left, for the first time, the peaceful hamlet, where, unknown by the reft of the world, he had pafled the happy innocence of youth, Accompanied by the faithful Genghis, he traverfed, during two years, the greater part of Afia. He faw nature under a thousand different forms, and was aftonifhed to behold in what maltitudes of ways people endeavoured to imitate her, and even to furpafs and correct her. But what furprifed hun moit was, to obferve that the mifery of the people was always greatest where nature and art feemed moft to have confpired to render them happy. The finest and moft fertile provinces were always thofe in which the people were most relentlessly oppreffed. Tifan, with indignation, faw kings diffipating the wealth of their fubjects in monftrous and extravagant debauchery, as if it had been booty taken from an enemy; kings who fhed the precious blood of human beings in ruinous wars, and who destroyed fix flourishing pro

vinces that they might conquer the seventh. He faw kings, who, from an abfolute incapacity of performing their duty, were forced to delegate the adminiftration of the ftate to mifreffes and favourites. While they paffed their obfcure life in indolence and fenfuality, they were not ashamed to liften to needy and infatiable flatterers, who compared them to the beft of princes, and even to the deity himfelf. In a word, Tifan learnt to know Sultans, and Viziers, and Omrahs, and Mandarins, and Dervifes and Bonzes, and was no longer furprised to fee the greater part of Afia exhibiting fymp toms of fpeedy decay and univerfal ruin, Genghis never failed to lead him to the proper improvement of his obfervations; and this journey became a fchool to him in which he learnt without knowing it, the art of reigning.

He

Tifan from his youth had fhewn very uncommon talents. A happy fenfibility early developed all the faculties of his foul. His intelligence got the start of the fage inftructions of his mafter. His heart was bent to, gratitude, to friendship, and benevolence. He always felt the joy or grief of thofe he loved more exquifitely than his own. never knew happier moments than when he could procure them a pleafure, or turn afide from them a calamity. Tifan, therefore, when he was witnefs to the diforders and diftreffes of Chechian, loft all concern for his own fortune, and burnt with defire to fuccour his unfortunate fellow mortals. Genghis took advantage of this opportunity, and gave the prince hopes, that perhaps he might fome time or other fee his wishes accomplished. and quoted numerous examples of men burfing indignantly from obfcurity, and becoming benefactors of the human race. "Perhaps Providence has made choice of you as its inftrument for the accomplishment of noble purposes. If fuch be its defign, it will point out a way which we cannot at prefent forefee." Having now fully executed the purpofe of his journey, Genghis led back his pupil to their retired and happy valley.

The young Tifan for fome days enjoyed in the arms of the lovely Tilia, repofe from the fatigues of, a long voyage. The enjoys ment of that domeftic felicity which he had fo long been deprived of, the pleafure of revifiting the fcenes of his early attachments, and the places in which his foul bad reccived the first agreeable impreflions, feemed to have extinguished for a time thofe that he had acquired in his journey to Chechian, But they foon recurred with the greater force, and embittered the delights of his life. His heart reproached him, and each time he gave himfelf up to joy, he thought he heard a genius whispering, "O Tifan,

canft thou rejoice when fo many of thy fellow creatures are in mifery?"

A fhort time after their return, the troubles of Chechian began to draw to a crisis. Genghis, who had found means to renew the attachments of his youth with an old friend, was fecretly informed of every thing that paffed. He communicated the news to Tifan, who burnt with impatience to fee the oppreffed inhabitants of Chechian revenge themfelves on their tyrant. Genghis thought it was now time to advance another itep towards preparing the prince for the important fecret. He informed him that he was himfelf defcended from one of the ancient and noble families of Chechian; that he had formerly enjoyed public dignities at the court of the late King Azor; that he had been the confident of that king's younger fon, after whofe death, not fo much for his own perfonal fafety, as that he found he would be of no use in the new reign, hẹ had retired to thefe mountains to dedicate himfelf entirely and without interruption to the education of his dear Tifan." Why then, cried Tifan, with all the fire which fuch a difcovery was capable of inspiring, why do we delay hazarding our lives for our native country reduced to extremity, which is now fummoning all its children to its affiftance, or if that be too late, to its revenge?"

Genghis had fome difficulty to make the prince comprehend, that probity as well as prudence did not permit them to take a fide till it was certain, on which fide lay the indubitable right. "Isfandiar, faid he, has reigned as a tyrant; but his right to the crown is inviolable. The nation is obliged to acknowledge.him as its king. It is true the people have rights as facred, as inviolable as his, and they are no mere obliged to fuffer wrong without refiftance, than he is intitled to commit it at pleafure. Perhaps, however, Isfandiar may fee his error, he may liften to falutary advice; and perhaps there is more of revenge and private interest in the conduct of the chiefs of the revolt, than of public spirit and true love of their country. Time will few who are in the right, and as foon as duty and honour call us, we will depart for Chechian."

Tifan waited with impatience for decifive news, meanwhile Genghis, who had acquired in his youth the reputation of a valiant and fkilful officer, inftructed him with fome others of his companions in military excrcites.. Their little company was increafed by the addition of a number of young Tartars whom Genghis had drawn into his fervice by a few prefents and promifes. Tifan difinguifhed himself in this band of chofen youths; they loved him, and he was unanimously

elected

whole nation. Examine thy heart, O Tifan! What does it dictate to thee at this moment?"

"I am in fuch agitation, replied the prince, that I must have fome time to recol, let myfelf. I with you had allowed me to remain in ignorance of this fecret; and yet I feel it, faid he, preffing the old man to his breaft, I feel that my heart will be ever the fame. I would, as the fon of the noble Genghis, fhed my blood and expofe my life for my country; can I do lefs as the fon of: Temor? What do I fay? the fon of Temor O moft refpectable of old men! let me a ways remain thy fon! My highest ambition goes no farther; to you I owe the power which I feel I poffefs, of being able to defpife a crown.'

"To defpife a crown! faid Genghis No Tifan, that is not the way to recompence me for all my cares. You have only to defpife voluptuous indolence, idlenefs, de Buchery, pride, and thofe weaknches and crimes to which fo many of thofe called kings have been flaves. Shew yourfelf wor thy of the crown to which you are born; but fay not you defpife the most elevated ftation to which heaven can call a man."

"You know my heart, faid Tifan, I hope never to forfeit your approbation But there is one difficulty remains, how will you be able to convince the nobles and people of Chechian, that I am the son of Temor and their lawful king?':

“That you must do yourself, said Genghis; I cannot even if I would. A free choice muf raife to the throne him who fhall be thought most worthy of it. Go, Tifan, af fift the nation to maintain its lawful right against thofe who would wade through flaughter to a throne, and erect their own fortune on the ruins of liberty; deferve to be acknowledged by thy fellow-citizens as the first among them, and I am mistaken if they will not discover the most virtuous, and reward him, accordingly.

On their arrival at Chechian, the name of Genghis cafily procured to Tifan an advantageous fituation, The patriotic party received him with open arms, and as every occafion juftified the good opinion they had formed of him, he foon gained the confidence and confideration of his compatriots. The troubles of the times feemed to have revived the moral fenfe of the nation. At an age with which wildom feens rather incompatible, Tifan fhewed them a model of perfection which commanded their admiration and love. He was brave, but not rafr, cautious, but not indecifive; prompt, but not precipitate. He always exacted more from himfelf than from others, and governed his inferiors more by his example than by his orders. His manners were pure, he had fenibility without effeminacy, a profound

contempt for fenfual indulgence, and indif ference for every thing that tended to lead him off from his duty. He was affable to his inferiors, refpectful to old men, and complaifant to his equals; and what is furprifing, he found means to gain the love of every one notwithstanding all these perfec-. tions. His modelly and merit excited fo little envy, and his virtue threw fuch a brilliancy around him, that all ftrove to be connected in whatever related to him. "Tifan did this by my direction," said an old general-" I fought by his fide,” said a young officer" We had Tifan at our head,” faid the common foldiers. In fhort Tifan diftinguished himself fo much that he rose fep by step to the rank of General; and as the chief of the patriotic party had lately. fallen in battle, he was unanimoufly chofen to fupply the place.

Our hero was not only virtuous himself, but he had the faculty of making those around him become fo. Thofe fentiments which are produced in nobler fouls by a fympathetic attraction and a deep fenfe of virtue, were excited in lefs fenfible minds by the defire of meriting his approbation, and by a degree of jealoufy which becomes an eftimable paflion when it has virtue for its object. His name alone infpired his friends and companions with a fort of enthufiafin. Led on by Tifan, they thought themselves more than ordinary men, and they were really fo. His cloquence finished what his example, had begun. Their love for their native country, which had long lain dormant, revived, and each forgetting himself, loft all idea of happiness except in the national profperity. The chiefs of the contrary party found themselves daily growing weaker, and unable long to oppole the frength of a nation united and animated by the spirit of Tifan. They, therefore, betook themselves to fecret negociation, and confented to fubmit their rights to the delibera tion of a General Affembly of the people.

In this Affembly the patriots formed by far the greater number; and Tifan, who already reigned in their hearts, was declared by the voice of his country the mof worthy of governing a people whom his virtue and bravery had faved.

Genghis was appointed to announce to him, in prefence of the Allembly of the States, the general with. That venerable old man confidered this as the favourable moment for publicly discovering his important fecret. The general confidence he had acquired, the great idea entertained of his probity, the paternal tears which ran from his aged eyes while he related the facrifice he had made of his own fon, removed every doubt. The nation was enchanted to find in the object of its love the fon of a Frince whofe memory it refpected, and many whq

ha

had known Temor, acknowledged in Tifan the features of his father.

Thus Tifan, in the happieft day that Chechian had ever feen, was declared Sultan amidst the acclamations of an innumerable multitude who loaded him with benedic-' tions. Genghis announced to him his elec tion in a speech that drew tears from eyes which had never before fhed any. "It is at laft come," cried he, "this happy day which rewards me for the labours and cares of fo many years, for the greatest facrifice which a father could make for the love of his Prince! O Tifan, whom I was forced to redeem at fo high a price, view in thefe half extinguished eyes the tears of joy and affection. I fee thy virtue acknowledged by a whole nation, crowned with unbounded confidence, and rewarded with the best gift which a mortal can receive, the power doing good. Tifan, I ceafe to be thy father, to become the first of thy fubjects in love and fidelity. I know thy great, thy benevolent heart: What leffons can wildom give thee which are not already engraven on it by the hand of mature? I cannot, however, forget that thou art still but a man, fubject

of

to weakneffes, paffione, and error.-O Tifan, fon of my Royal Friend, my own fon! if ever an hour fhould come when thy foul, forgetting its proper dignity and its facred duties, fhall be about to abafe itself to a fhameful paffion or an act of injuftice, then may the image of Genghis, fprinkled with the blood of his own fon, flying from the walls of Chechian in the dead of night, and bearing thee in his trembling arms, may that frightful image restore to virtue the father of his people and the beft of Princes. But no, I fwear by the virtue to which have trained thee, that fatal day fhall never come. More happy profpects appear to my prophetic imagination, and the reign of Tifan hall be the æra known to all pofterity as the reign of peace, of happiness, and of liberty."

The reign of Tifan justified the prediction of Genghis. It was long and profperous. The unavoidable cares attendant on a crown were made lighter by the approbation of his own heart, and by the domeftic comforts he enjoyed. The gentle Tilia brought him a numerous offspring; and his defcendants still fit on the throne of Chechian.