No. 58.

The feeling, however, of Abdallah being as strong as it was sincere, he by no means relinquished the pursuit of the

Two young men of Arabia fell in love with the same woman-one from sentiment and deep affection, the other from mere physical attraction. The name of the first was Abdallah, that of the latter Zumaun.

The family of the girl was rich, but Zumaun was still richer; and her father, being a covetous man himself, thought that the happiness of others must centre in the same things he most valued; so he gave him the preference. The father's uncle, a sheik of importance, was also an enemy to the suit of Abdallah, whom he hated, on account of some family quarrel of five score years' standing; and, besides that, his pride in an undoubted pedigree revolted at the humbleness of the young man's station. Added to all these apparently insurmountable obstacles, the girl herself preferred Zumaun.

the opposition shewn to his suit by the family of the girl, and, far more so, by her indifference. This continued till the day was fixed for her to wed his rival.

Now, Abdallah being a man of quick wit, and resolute mind, so contrived it, that Zumaun should travel a short distance, in doing which it would be necessary to cross a wide lake. At the borders of this, he waited in disguise, seated in a boat, till Zumaun arrived, when he offered to ferry him across.

It was a wide piece of water; and, when they had arrived to about the middle, Abdallah quietly took off his disguise, and, without rising from his seat, thus addressed his rival :

"Zumaun, it is agreed that you are shortly to possess the woman I love. She prefers you to me, and her parents approve her choice. I bear you no malice whatever; yet, as an act of justice to my own feelings, I cannot, with passive resignation, endure my sincere heart to be put aside as a thing of no value, and left

If

to pant a sad way downward to the grave, without making one positive effort. I can obtain no hope for myself, I am, at all events, resolved to prove whether your love and devotion equal mine. I do not believe they will stand the test, and upon this stands my last chance of happiness. Yet I call Allah to witness, that I entertain no personal hatred against you, and that this, my present action, is unaccompanied by any sense of sanguinary revenge."

"What would you do?" asked Zumaun, with a stern expression of sarcasm. "There are few things I would not dare and defy, in order to possess any woman I was bent upon. You should have waited till this day month, and then, perhaps, I might not have been so stanch." He ended with an ironical laugh, that was as little complimentary to the whole of the fair sex, as pleasing to Abdallah.

"This is my proposition," said the latter, in a resolute tone, rising at the same time, and thrusting his foot through the bottom of the boat, so that the water immediately began to rush through the aperture; "that he who first quits the boat, shall resign all claim to the woman we both love?"

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Zumaun was a man of strong animal passions, and his courage and will being equal to his sensuality, he answered, Agreed; here let us sit fast,-I will not be the first to loose my hold, though we sink a hundred fathoms deep. Methinks our sabres might have settled the matter in a shorter way; but be it as thou sayest."

So saying, they both took their seats at opposite ends of the boat, while the water continued to pour in.

They had not long remained thus, when a splendid barge approached, in which was the caliph, and several of his chief officers. The caliph, seeing two men seated opposite each other in a boat half full of water, and evidently about to sink, with an elbow on one knee, and the chin resting on the hand, while, in fearful silence, their eyes were fixed sternly upon each other's face, was greatly surprised at so extraordinary a sight. Commanding his officers to take them into the barge, he demanded an explanation of their present conduct.

"Commander of the faithful!" said Zumaun, falling at the feet of the caliph, "it is entirely owing to the contrivance of Abdallah, who forced me to an alternative, and I chose the stronger one."

"Is it true?" demanded the caliph.
"It is," answered Abdallah.

"What hast thou to say, then, that I should not order thee the bowstring upon the spot?"

Nothing, O caliph; but much in justification of what I have done."

"You answer," said the caliph, looking sternly round at his vizier and officers, Passion "like one beyond my power. has that capability sometimes, and places a subject on a level with the mightiest of the earth, and not unfrequently far more than that, though my courtiers would have me believe otherwise. Whether you be right or wrong, it is evident you are conscientiously devoted to it, which is a thing to be respected.

Abdallah, with tears now gushing to his eyes, at the generous condescension of the caliph, related what had passed in the boat, and all that had occasioned it. He did not dwell upon the depth of his affection, but left all his actions to be explained by that feeling. In doing this, he adhered so strictly to the truth, in every particular, that Zumaun readily admitted every thing he said.

The caliph mused a while. "Well," said he at length, turning to Abdallah; you find that he has stood the test you proposed, and would have died in support of it; do you admit this?"

"I do believe it," answered Abdallah, despondingly.

"Well, then, there remains nothing more for you to do, especially as the woman prefers your rival."

"O caliph," ejaculated Abdallah, as he struggled for one more hope, "Zumaun would have preferred deciding the question with the sabre, and to this I am willing to agree!"

"Nay, rejoined the caliph, "you should have proposed, or accepted it in the first instance; the ordeal was your own choosing, and he has passed through it, according to your own admission. You are not justified, even by passion, in taking any farther measures to prevent his possession of the object of his desire."

So saying, the caliph ordered them to be put ashore at opposite sides of the lake, and then set out again to pursue his diversion of fishing.

With a despairing heart, Abdallah went his way, and passed his time he knew not how, wandering about he knew not whither, till he heard the day named on which the only being that could make life a bliss, and without whom it would be a wretched burden, was to be given to another.

On the morning of this day, the girl, accompanied by her father, the rich

merchant, her uncle, the proud sheik, and her lover Zumaun, went to the mosque to hear prayers, previous to the performance of the marriage ceremony. As this was probably the last time Abdallah would have an opportunity of seeing the object of his affections, he went there also.

The service began, and continued without any interruption; for the deep sobs of Abdallah were inaudible to every one but God.

Silence reigned throughout the mosque as the voice of the aged imaun, with many a solemn pause, exhorted them to acts of virtue, and to hopes of heaven. But Abdallah heard nought-he saw nought before him but her he loved, and the bare stone walls that emblemed his future.

The instant the prayers were concluded, a loud and general cry echoed through the mosque! The place was suddenly filled with smoke, and flames were seen in various places! Every body crowded quickly to the door, and all passed forth, except the five above mentioned, the guards of the caliph preventing their egress, and closing the door when all the rest had escaped.

A part of the roof of the mosque was now removed, and, looking up, they discovered the caliph and his attendants, while a number of the guards immemediately commenced throwing down bundles of blazing fagots into the mosque.

"Perverse wretches!" shouted the caliph from above, "since ye could come to no amicable arrangement among yourselves, but must try each other's courage by seeing who would endure drowning with the greatest firmness, it is now my intention to see how ye can all bear burning! Guards, throw down more fagots quick there, or your lives shall answer it!"

"O mighty caliph !" exclaimed the father, “I had nought to do in the matter-I implore mercy, for I am truly innocent of all offence!"

"How !—did not Abdallah first make offers for thy daughter, and didst thou not refuse him, and accept Zumaun afterwards?"

"O commander of the faithful! that was because my daughter loved Zumaun better."

"Dog!" exclaimed the caliph-"'tis false! it was because he was richer; had it been otherwise, you would have forced her to accept Abdallah.'

"I consent to Abdallah's suit," cried the merchant, "most willingly-most

willingly, O dread Prince! and I will give him riches in abundance with her-have mercy upon my life!"

"Lower a rope to him," said the caliph to his guard, "and drag him up."

They did so. "Now, cast down more fagots, and we will burn the rest speedily."

Mercy, mercy!" loudly cried the sheik; "thy servant hath done nought to provoke the wrath of the great Ali."

"Slave!" shouted the caliph, "didst thou not bear enmity and hatred to Abdallah, who was the first to ask thy niece in marriage: and didst thou not help to cause his rejection, because of thy pride of rank and the quarrels of thy ancestors? All this conspired to drive him to extremities with Zumaun, and I am now resolved your passions shall all be put to the test. Guards! cast down more fagots, and faster, for the inside of the mosque shall be filled with them!"

"O mighty Ali! O great son-in-law of Mahomet! what shall thy poor slave do to obtain favour and mercy? I am scorched-I am burning! have mercy upon thy slave! I will gladly consent to anything."

"What rank was your father?” shouted the caliph.

"A sheik!" cried the wretched old man, wringing his hands; "and my grandfather was a sheik too."

"And what was his father?”

"An emir-an emir- mighty son of the great Prophet Mahomet!-suffer me to be taken out of this-and his wife's father and brother were both emirs; and his grandfather was a sheik-but his great-grandfather was a barber, and sold pipes and garlic!"

"Take him out this instant !" shouted the caliph, "for he has told me more than I asked."

The guards obeyed the caliph's orders promptly; and the old sheik saved his life thus meanly, wisely, or weakly, (perhaps all three,) at the expense of his undoubted pedigree, and the family quarrel of fivescore years' standing.

The remainder of the fagots being now thrown down into the mosque, the flames began quickly to hem in those that remained. The young girl had fallen down in an agony of terror, and Abdallah having covered her over with his mantle, to protect her from the fierce heat of the approaching flames, was seated on the ground beside her. Zumaun, with an erect body and folded arms, stood near them.

"Let Zumaun be taken up," said the caliph, "the other two shall be burned for the trouble they have occasioned."

"Thanks, O commander of the faithful!" said Zumaun; but he was scarcely half way up, when the caliph exclaimed, "who is this?-I miscalled the names; lower him down again-take up Abdallah, for it was he I meant."

"O caliph !" ejaculated Abdallah, fervently, "let Zumaun be taken up from the fire; for I will remain, and be burned with her I love, which is far better than living to remember a last parting such as this would be."

The caliph ordered that Zumaun should be lifted out of the mosque immediately.

"But, O just prince!" resumed Abdallah, "this woman, who lies here thus insensible of her impending punishment, is equally guiltless of any offence; it is I only that am to blame for it all. Let her be spared, and I will gladly die in her stead."

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"She shall be saved only upon one condition," answered the caliph, sternly "you shall be permitted to suffer in her stead, provided you give a free consent to her becoming the wife of Zumaun ?" "And is there no other alternative?" "There is no other."

"Then," said Abdallah, "I do give my free consent; and may she be as happy with him, as I have been miserable without her."

The young girl having recovered from her fear of death during the last words, no sooner reached the platform where the caliph stood, than she threw herself at his feet, exclaiming, "Great and merciful Ali, let Abdallah be saved!-let him be taken out of the fire; for now I perceive who really loved me, and my own extreme ingratitude and cruelty!"

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Enough," said Ali, smiling; "lift him up quickly-I see we are to have no sport to-day."

The caliph ordered Abdallah a thousand pieces of gold from his treasury, and made Zumaun an officer of his guard. He caused the father to bestow twothirds of his riches upon his daughter, as a marriage gift, and made Abdallah a sheik in the place of his uncle.

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Abdallah, however, returned money to the merchant, and declined robbing the sheik of his sheikship. He retired to a pleasant villa some leagues from the city, where he lived happily, with the woman he loved, to the end of his days.

It is here shewn, without making even a bad or gross passion compromise its character or resolution (an error that is continually made, and without any necessity for the moral,) how a deep and delicate affection of the heart, that can dare and endure to the utmost, although there be no return to its love, is superior to every gross and selfish desire. We have thus exemplified how animal passion, however powerful, is not equal, even though it should succeed in its ends, to that intense and refined feeling and devotion, which will make an utter sacrifice of its dearest hopes and sympathies, in order to serve or make happy the beloved object. R. H. H.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.;

THE YEMASSEE. A ROMANCE. By the Author of GUY RIVERS.

MR. SIMMS has improved largely and decidedly upon his former work (which we noticed at p. 339 of our first volume), wisely availing himself of the criticisms thereon. The "Yemassee" is a better story than "Guy Rivers;" the plot is more ingeniously constructed, many of the incidents more vividly related, and what is important, the progress of the tale is much less frequently intercepted by needlessly protracted dissertation; the introduction of which will weigh down the best novel in which it is attempted. We think too, that the characters generally are better conceived; in "Guy Rivers," there are, at least, two monstrosities, and, although they were delineated with great power and effect, we are much better pleased with all the personages in "The Yemassee," whose qualities and actions are less strained and more natural. One objection we have to make to the present work is, that in too many instances the personages for whom we are interested are rescued from impending destruction at that critical point when the delay of another moment would be fatal. This is, however, overbalanced by vigour of description, great imaginative power, abundance and variety of well managed incidents, and much originality and discrimination of character. In these, our American brethren generally excel. We subjoin the following piece of highly wrought and beautiful description :

"He does not come-he does not come,' she murmured, as she stood contemplating the thick copse spreading before her, and forming the barrier which