III.

The Talisman of Oromanes.

HIS tale is from the "Tales of the Genii," a collection which, for many years was highly esteemed. They purported to be translated from the Persian by Sir Charles Morell. They were, however, ascertained to have been written by the Rev. James Ridley, a descendant of Bishop Ridley, the martyr: his father was the rector of Romford, and he succeeded to the living. He was educated at Winchester, from whence he was admitted at New College, Oxford. He held the appointment of chaplain to the forces at the siege of Belle-Isle, where he laid the seeds of a disorder which terminated his life in February, 1765.

Under the similitude of a dream, certainly of some duration, but, to Oriental narrators, not improbable, a beautiful lesson is conveyed in the history of the merchant Abudah. Endowed with riches almost beyond the dreams of avarice, with wife, children, and friends, still he was not a happy man-one thing was wanting, that should be a talisman against all the ills of fortune or unquiet. The solution of this secret and its maxim is applicable to all nations and ages; the precept it enforces is equally fitted to the Christian as to any worshipper of the one true God and Mahomet's followers :

That true happiness on earth is only to be found in knowing and doing the will of our Great Creator, and in the practice of active benificence.

Now, with respect to benevolence, or a desire to advance the welfare, or to mitigate the misfortunes of others, it is a disposition so congenial to our nature and so suited to our condition as dependent creatures, so forcibly recommended by the Christian law, that it is needless to enlarge upon it as a duty. St. Paul tells us how we "ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." "

THE TALISMAN OF OROMANES.

In the centre of the quay of Bagdad, where the wealth of the whole earth is poured forth for the benefit of the faithful, lived the fortunate Abudah, possessed of the riches and merchandise of various nations, caressed by the mighty, and blessed by the indigent; daily providing for thousands by his munificence, and winning daily the hearts of thousands by his charity and generosity. But, however magnificently the days of Abudah might be spent, his nights were the hours of disturbance and affliction. His wife was fairer than any of the daughters of Circassia; his children were lovelier than the offspring of fairies; and his riches, which were greater than his desires could consume, were unavailing to drive from his imagination the terrors of the night, for no sooner was the merchant retired within the walls of his chambers, than a little box, which no one might remove from its place, advanced without help into the centre of the chamber, and opening, discovered to his sight the form of a diminutive old hag, who, with crutches, hopped forward to Abudah, and every night addressed him in the following terms:-"O! Abudah, to whom Mahomet has given such a profusion of blessings, why delayest thou to search out the Talisman of Oromanes? the which, whoever possesseth, shall know neither uneasiness, or discontent; neither may he be assailed by the tricks of fortune or the power of man. Till you are possessed of that valuable treasure, O Abudah! my presence shall nightly remind you of your deficiency, and my chest remain in your chamber of repose." Having thus said, the hag retired into the box, shaking her crutches, and, with a hideous yell, closed herself in ; leaving the unfortunate merchant on a bed of doubt and anxiety for the rest of the night.

The unwelcome visitant thus repeating her visits, rendered the life of Abudah most miserable and fatiguing. He did not dare to tell his grievance, lest the strangeness of the adventure should rather move the laughter than the compassion of his friends. At length, however, wearied out with the importunate taunts of the hag, he determined to open his mind, and one day, when feasting in his saloon, surrounded by friends, he asked publicly if any one could give him an account of the Talisman of Oromanes, or the place where it was preserved. To this question he could get no satisfactory answer; all had, indeed, heard of its virtues, but every one despaired of finding it. Exposed to the upbraiding of his nocturnal hag, Abudah knew not what course to steer in pursuit of the appointed treasure.

The next day, he caused it to be cried publicly in the streets of Bagdad "that Abudah the merchant would give much riches to the man who could inform him where the Talisman of Oromanes was lodged." This declaration was made for many days successively; but no one appeared to satisfy the inquiries of the impatient Abudah.

After many days, a poor traveller, who had been spoiled of his goods by the Bedouins, passing through Bagdad, heard the publication, and immediately offered to go before Abudah, and make known the place where the Talisman of Oromanes was preserved. The friends of the wealthy merchant joyfully carried the poor traveller to the palace of Abudah, and, with great tumult, introduced him to the merchant, who was sitting on a low sofa, and seemed entirely indifferent to the music which played before him, the dessert of elegancies which was prepared for his food, and the caresses of his wife and children, who endeavoured, by their tenderness and affection, to divert the gloom that overshadowed him.

"Abudah!” cried his friends (lifting up their voices together), "behold the discoverer of the Talisman of Oromanes!"

At their voices, the afflicted merchant looked up, like one awakened from a dream.

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This," said his friends, presenting the poor traveller to him, "this is the man who will engage to point out to you the Talisman of Oromanes."

The traveller was now about to begin his relation, when Abudah, having eyed him round, commanded the apartment to be cleared, that no one but himself might enjoy the discovery. His family and friends obediently departed; and the traveller, being left alone with the merchant, thus began his tale :

"Your fortune and attendance, O! wealthy citizen of Bagdad, allow of your search after the Talisman of Oromanes; but to the poor and needy, to the outcasts of fortune, no such happiness is permitted: they may, indeed, wander and examine, but the talisman is for ever shut up from their search; for infinite are the expenses which attend the discovery, and large the rewards which must be given to them who help the inquirer forward in his adventure after the sacred talisman. Myself, Oh, merchant, have slaved through life to obtain a sufficiency for that great end and 'purpose; but since the Prophet has repeatedly blasted my designs, and reduced me to my original state of want, I must endeavour to wean my affections, and rest contented, though unblest."

"But, my friend," said Abudah, "you neglect to inform me where I may find or purchase this heavenly talisman."

"It is lodged," replied the poor traveller, "in the Valley of Bocchim: princes are its guardians, and it is treasured up amidst all the riches of the earth. You cannot obtain admitance there, unless you go loaded with every variety that is

costly and expensive; which you must present to the Genii who keep a watch over this earthly paradise of riches; and if your present be not sufficiently costly, your labour is lost."

"I have," cried Abudah, rejoiced to hear the talisman might be obtained by riches, "nine thousand acres of pasturage around the rivers of Bagdad; I have twelve thousand estates of fruits, and oils, and corn; I have twenty-two mines of the finest diamonds, and six hundred vessels which fish for and produce me the most costly pearl; I have, moreover, eight hundred warehouses, and four hundred store-rooms, filled with the most precious bales of silks and brocades; besides these, the fortunes of nine viziers, mortgaged for an hundred years, and all the beautiful slaves of Circassia, are at my disposal."

"Oh, happy, happy Abudah !" interrupted the poor traveller: "thine then, and only thine, is it to purchase a passage into the Valley of Bocchim."

"If so," continued Abudah, overjoyed at the poor traveller's exclamation," direct me instantly to the entrance of the valley.'

"Alas, Sir," answered the traveller, "it is in the Deserts of Arabia, seventeen days' journey hence. Besides, your presents are not ready, nor your guard, lest the Arabs spoil you of your riches, and prevent your application at the entrance of the Valley of Bocchim: but if you will permit your servant to direct you in the choice of the presents, some of which will take much time in preparing, by the next spring you may set forward, and speedily find an issue to your journey."

Abudah acquiesced in the arguments of the traveller; and, having given orders that he should use as he pleased his immense riches, he gave himself entirely up to the meditation of the intended journey. The poor traveller, having sufficient