which, the phantom who had led them into such gross delu- Besides the several pieces of morality to be drawn out of this vision, I learned from it never to repine at my own misfortunes, or to envy the happiness of another, since it is impossible for any man to form a right judgment of his neighbour's sufferings; for which reason also, I have determined never to think too lightly of another's complaints, but to regard the sorrows of my fellow-creatures with sentiments of humanity and compassion. • ADDISON. SECTION V. The Vision of Almet. Fortune her gifts may variously dispose: POPE. ALMET, the dervise who watched the sacred lamp in the sepulchre of the prophet, as he one day rose up from the devotions of the morning, which he had performed at the 3 gate of the temple, with his body turned towards the east, and his forehead on the earth, saw before him a man in splendid apparel, attended by a long retinue, who gazed steadfastly on him, with a look of mournful complacency, and seemed desirous to speak, but unwilling to offend. The dervise, after a short silence, advanced, and saluting him with the calm dignity which independence confers upon humility, requested that he would reveal his purpose. "Almet," said the stranger," thou seest before thee a man whom the hand of prosperity has overwhelmed with wretchedness. Whatever I once desired as the means of happiness, I now possess; but I am not yet happy, and therefore I despair. I regret the lapse of time, because it glides away without enjoyment; and as I expect nothing in the future but the vanities of the past, I do not wish that the future should arrive. Yet I tremble lest it should be cut off; and my heart sinks, when I anticipate the moment, in which eternity shall close over the vacuity of my life, like the sea upon the path of a ship, and leave no traces of my existence more durable than the furrow which remains after the waves have united. If in the treasures of thy wisdom, there is any precept to obtain felicity, vouchsafe it to me. For this purpose, I am come a purpose which yet I feared to reveal, lest, like all the former, it should be disappointed." Almet listened with looks of astonishment and pity, to this complaint of a being, in whom reason was known to be a pledge of immortality but the serenity of his countenance soon returned; and stretching out his hands towards heaven, "Stranger," said he," the knowledge which I have received from the prophet, I will communicate to thee." As I was sitting one evening at the porch of the temple, pensive and alone, my eye wandered among the multitude that was scattered before me; and while I remarked the weariness and solicitude which were visible in every countenance, I was suddenly struck with a sense of their condition. Wretched mortals, said I, to what purpose are you◄ busy? If to produce happiness, by whom is it enjoyed? Do the linens of Egypt and the silks of Persia, bestow felicity on those who wear them, equal to the wretchedness of yonder slaves, whom I see leading the camels that bring them? Is the fineness of the texture, or the splendour of the tints, regarded with delight by those, to whom custom has rendered them familiar? or can the power of habit render others insensible of pain, who live only to traverse the desert a scene of dreadful uniformity, where a barren level is bounded only by the horizon; where no change of prospect, or variety of images, relieves the traveller from a sense of toil and danger; of whirlwinds which in a moment may bury him in the sand, and of thirst which the wealthy have given half their possessions to allay ? Do those on whom bereditary diamonds sparkle with unregarded lustre, gain from the possession what is lost by the wretch who seeks с which, the phantom who had led them into such gross delusions, was commanded to disappear. There was sent in her stead a goddess of a quite different figure: her motions were steady and composed, and her aspect serious but cheerful. She every now and then cast her eyes towards heaven, and fixed them upon Jupiter: her name was Patience. She had no sooner placed herself by the mount of Sorrows, but what I thought very remarkable, the whole heap sunk to such a degree, that it did not appear a third part so big as it was before. She afterwards returned every man his own proper calamity, and, teaching him how to bear it in the most commodious manner, he marched off with it contentedly, being very well pleased that he had not been left to his own choice, as to the kind of evils which fell to his lot. Besides the several pieces of morality to be drawn out of this vision, I learned from it never to repine at my own misfortunes, or to envy the happiness of another, since it is impossible for any man to form a right judgment of his neighbour's sufferings; for which reason also, I have determined never to think too lightly of another's complaints, but to regard the sorrows of my fellow-creatures with sentiments of humanity and compassion. • ADDISON. SECTION V. The Vision of Almet. Fortune her gifts may variously dispose: POPE. ALMET, the dervise who watched the sacred lamp in the sepulchre of the prophet, as he one day rose up from the devotions of the morning, which he had performed at the gate of the temple, with his body turned towards the east, and his forehead on the earth, saw before him a man in splendid apparel, attended by a long retinue, who gazed steadfastly on him, with a look of mournful complacency, and seemed desirous to speak, but unwilling to offend. The dervise, after a short silence, advanced, and saluting him with the calm dignity which independence confers upon humility, requested that he would reveal his purpose. "Almet," said the stranger, "thou seest before thee a man whom the hand of prosperity has overwhelmed with wretchedness. Whatever I once desired as the means of happiness, I now possess; but I am not yet happy, and therefore I despair. I regret the lapse of time, because it glides away without enjoyment; and as I expect nothing in the future but the vanities of the past, I do not wish that the future should arrive. Yet I tremble lest it should be cut off; and my heart sinks, when I anticipate the moment, in which eternity shall close over the vacuity of my life, like the sea upon the path of a ship, and leave no traces of my existence more durable than the furrow which remains after the waves have united. If in the treasures of thy wisdom, there is any precept to obtain felicity, vouchsafe it to me. For this purpose, I am come a purpose which yet I feared to reveal, lest, like all the former, it should be disappointed." Almet listened with looks of astonishment and pity, to this complaint of a being, in whom reason was known to be a pledge of immortality: but the serenity of his countenance soon returned; and stretching out his hands towards heaven, "Stranger," said he, "the knowledge which I have received from the prophet, I will communicate to thee." As I was sitting one evening at the porch of the temple, pensive and alone, my eye wandered among the multitude that was scattered before me; and while I remarked the weariness and solicitude which were visible in every countenance, I was suddenly struck with a sense of their condition. Wretched mortals, said I, to what purpose are you busy? If to produce happiness, by whom is it enjoyed? Do the linens of Egypt and the silks of Persia, bestow felicity on those who wear them, equal to the wretchedness of yonder slaves, whom I see leading the camels that bring them? Is the fineness of the texture, or the splendour of the tints, regarded with delight by those, to whom custom has rendered them familiar? or can the power of habit render others insensible of pain, who live only to traverse the desert. a scene of dreadful uniformity, where a barren level is bounded only by the horizon; where no change of prospect, or variety of images, relieves the traveller from a sense of toil and danger; of whirlwinds which in a moment may bury him in the sand, and of thirst which the wealthy have given half their possessions to allay? Do those on whom hereditary diamonds sparkle with unregarded lustre, gain from the possession what is lost by the wretch who seeks C them in the mine; who lives excluded from the common bounties of nature; to whom even the vicissitude of day and night is not known; who sighs in perpetual darkness, and whose life is one mournful alternative of insensibility and Iabour? If those are not happy, who possess, in proportion as those are wretched who bestow, how vain a dream is the life of man! And if there is, indeed, such difference in the value of existence, how shall we acquit of partiality the hand by which this difference has been made. While my thoughts thus multiplied, and my heart burned within me, I became sensible of a sudden influence from above. The streets and the crowds of Mecca disappeared. I found myself sitting on the declivity of a mountain, and perceived at my right hand an angel, whom I knew to be Azoran, the minister of reproof. When I saw him, I was afraid. I cast my eyes upon the ground, and was about to deprecate his anger, when he commanded me to be silent. "Almet," said he, "thou hast devoted thy life to meditation, that thy counsel might deliver ignorance from the mazes of error, and deter presumption from the precipice of guilt; but the book of nature thou hast read without understanding it is again opened before thee: look up, consider it, and be wise." I looked up, and beheld an enclosure, beautiful as the gardens of paradise, but of a small extent. Through the middle, there was a green walk; at the end, a wild desert; and beyond, impenetrable darkness. The walk was shaded with trees of every kind, that were covered at once with blossoms and fruit; innumerable birds were singing in the branches; the grass was intermingled with flowers, which impregnated the breeze with fragrance, and painted the path with beauty. On the one side flowed a gentle trasparent stream, which was just heard to murmur over the golden sands that sparkled at the bottom; and on the other, were walks and bowers, fountains, grottos, and cascades, which diversified the scene with endless variety, but did not conceal the bounds. While I was gazing in a transport of delight and wonder on this enchanting spot, I perceived a man stealing along the walk with a thoughtful and deliberate pace. His eyes were fixed upon the earth, and his arms crossed on his bosom ; he sometimes started as if a sudden pang had seized him his countenance expressed solicitude and terror; he looked round with a sigh, and having gazed a moment on the de |