30 THE MOST WRETCHED. 



The sultan was touched with the father's grief ; he 

 was himself a father ; and while he thought of his 

 own children, blooming in health and beauty, com- 

 passion for an unhappy parent melted his soul. At 

 length the silence that came around the mourner, 

 smote his ear, like a sudden sound — he lifted his 

 eyes — he remembered the homage that waits on the 

 throne of kings ; he bowed in reverence, and gave 

 place to another. The third who presented himself 

 before the sultan, had in his mien and countenance, 

 a deep and moveless melancholy, like the cloud of 

 night covering the heavens and the earth — " Mighty 

 Akbar ! " he said, " I am Alhamet of Khorasm ; 

 dost thou then in the light of thy happiness desire 

 to be acquainted with the darkness of grief? I too 

 was once happy — but who can trust to the happiness 

 of earth, or the faith of men ? Alas, it were better 

 trust the tempestuous ocean, or the sandy desert, 

 than he whom thy heart loveth best ! I was great 

 among my people, and had wealth like heaps in the 

 wilderness ; I had men servants, and maid servants, 

 and horses, and camels, and flocks and herds at my 

 desire ; but these were not enough for my happiness ; 

 I spent my days in removing the pains of poverty 

 from the indigent ; and my nights in searching after 

 wisdom. At length I perceived that there is nothing 

 upon the earth so beautiful as friendship. I sighed 

 after some one, with whom to divide the blessings I 

 possessed, and from whom I might draw wisdom and 

 delight, as from an unfailing well. I considered 

 among all my acquaintance and dependents, if there 

 were a man worthy to become a friend. I conversed ; 

 I enquired ; I diligently sought after a companion to 

 my soul. There was one, whose heart seemed to 

 overflow with kindness ; his words were the strength 

 of wisdom : I observed him with delight ; I listened 

 to his voice, I said, ^ I have found a friend — precious 

 shall he be in my sight.' He shared my wealth, as 

 myself; he knew all my thoughts ; our alms and 

 our devotions were done together ; he was as another 



