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Whose only charms were fmiles, devoid of art,
Whofe only wealth, a gentle feeling heart.

While thus within her fecret loved retreat,
Half fleeping, half awake, opprefs'd with heat,
The princefs flumber'd; near her, fhrill, yet faint,
Rofe the fad tones of fuppliant forrow's plaint.
She ftarts, and angry gazes round: when lo!
A wretched female, bent with age and woe,
Drass her unfleady feet the arbour nigh,
While every step is number'd by a figh.
Meagre and wan her form, her cheek is pale;
Her tatter'd garments fcarce her limbs can veil;
Yet fill, through want and grief, her air betrays
Grandeur's remains, and gleams of better days.
Soon as to Nouronihar's couch the came,
Low on the ground her weak and trembling frame
Exhaufed fank; and then, with gafping breast,
She thus in plaintive tones the fair addrefs'd.

"If e'er compaffion's tear your cheek could ftain, "If e'er you languish'd in disease and pain, "If e'er you fympathized with age's groan, "Hear, noble lady, hear a fuppliant's moan! "Broken by days of want, and nights of tears,

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By fickness wafted, and opprefs'd by years, "Beneath our facred Mithra's fcorching fire "I fink enfeebled, and with thirst expire. "Yon ftream is near: oh! lift a fufferer's cry, "And reach one draught of water, left I die !"

"What

"What means this bold intrufion ?" cried the fair, With peevish tone, and difcontented air;

"What daring voice, with wearying plaint, infests
"The facred grove where Perfia's princefs rests?
"Beggar begone, and let thefe clamours cease!
"This buys at once your abfence, and my peace."-

Thus faid the princefs, and indignant frown'd,
Then caft her precious bracelet on the ground,
And turn'd again to fleep. With joyless eye
The fainting stranger faw the jewel lie :
When lo! kind Selima (the Georgian's name),
Softly with water from the fountain came;
And while, with gentle grace, fhe gave the bowl,
Thus fweetly fad her feeling accents stole,

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-"Humble and poor, I nothing can beftow, Except thefe tears of pity for your woe:

"'Tis all I have; but yet that all receive

"From one who fain your forrows would relieve,
"From one who weeps to view fuch mournful fcenes,
"And would give more, but that her hand lacks means.
"Drink, mother! drink! the wave is cool and clear,
"But drink in filence, left the princefs hear!"-

Scarce are thefe words pronounced, when, blefs'd furprize! The stranger's age-bowed figure fwells its fize! No more the ftamp of years deforms her face; Her tatter'd fhreds to fparkling robes give place;

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Her breath perfumes the air with odours fweet;
Fresh roses fpring wherever tread her feet,

And from her eyes, where reign delight and love,
Unusual splendour glitters through the grove!
Her filver wand, her form of heavenly mould,
Her white and fhining robes, her wings of gold,
Her port majeftic, and fuperior height,
Announce a daughter of the world of light!
The princess, whom her flave's delighted cries
Compell'd once more to ope her fleep-bound eyes,
With wonder mix'd with awe the fcene furvey'd,
While thus the Peri cheer'd the captive maid.

"Look up, fweet girl, and caft all fears afide! "I feek my darling fon's predeftined bride, "And here I find her: here are found alone,

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Feelings as kind, as gracious as his own. "For you, fair princess, in whose eyes of blue, "The ftrife of envy, shame, and grief, I view, "Obferve, and profit by this fcene! you gave, "But oh! how far lefs nobly than your flave! "Your bitter fpeech, proud glance, and peevish tone, "Too plain declared, your gift was meant alone

"Your own repofe and filence to secure,

"And hush the beggar, not relieve the poor!

"Oh! royal lady, let this leffon prove,

"Smiles, more than prefents, win a fuppliant's love;
"And when your mandates rule fome diftant land,
"Where all expect their bleffings from your hand,
"Remember, with ill-will and frowns beftow'd,
"Favours offend, and gifts become a load!"-

She

She ceafed, and touching with her filver wand
Her deftined daughter, ftraight two wings expand
Their purple plumes, and wave o'er either arm;
Next to her person spreads the powerful charm:
And foon the enraptured wondering maid combined
A faultlefs perfon with a faultlefs mind.

Then, while with joy divine their hearts beat high,
Swift as the lightning of a jealous eye

The Peries fpread their wings, and foar'd away
To the blefs'd regions of eternal day.

Stung with regret, the princefs faw too plain,
Loft by her fault what tears could ne'er regain!
Long on the tablets of her humbled breaft
The Peri's parting words remain'd imprefs'd.
E'en when her hand Golconda's fceptre fway'd
And fubject realms her mild behefts obey'd,
The juft reproof her confcious ear still heard;
Still the remember'd, with ill grace conferr'd,
Crowns, to a feeling mind, lefs joy impart,
Than trifles, offer'd with a willing heart.

No.

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"THERE is a thing, there is a thing, "Which I fain would have from thee!

"I fain would have thy gay gold ring;

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"O! warrior, give it me?"

He lifts his head;

Lo! near his bed

Stands a maid as fair as day;

Cold is the night,

Yet her garment is light,

For her shift is her only array.

"Come you from east,

"Or come you

from weft,

"Or

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