THE MOST WRETCHED. 31 



soul. Years passed away, and he seemed but the 

 more united in everything. At last a secret enemy 

 denounced me to the governor ; I was accused of 

 treachery to my country ; a letter which it was 

 declared I had written, was shown to him — I 

 was condemned without further proof and banished 

 from Khorasm. Before I departed, I gave over to 

 the hands of Abdallah (so was my friend called), all 

 my estate, my treasures, my household, all that I 

 had, 'we are one,' said I, ' distance will not divide 

 us ; — let me have from you what will suffice me in 

 my exile — the rest may you enjoy at ease, until it 

 please God that I shall share them again with you.* 

 I took with me a purse of gold, and went into Bac- 

 tria ; where at times I received from Abdallah, by 

 the hands of a travelling merchant a larger supply. 

 After five years, the governor who had condemned 

 me was deposed, and another appointed in his place : 

 I was then recalled, and I set out to return to 

 Khorasm. On the road my thoughts were taken up 

 with anticipating the delight with which Abdallah 

 would hail my return; the joy I should have in 

 hearing his voice, in partaking his regards, and 

 feeling the influence of his virtues. These thoughts 

 Hghtened the weariness of my journey, and after a 

 month spent in travel, I reached my own door. Be 

 thou the judge of my astonishment. Oh mighty 

 Akbar, when on entering I beheld a stranger the 

 master of my house ; and on hastily asking for Ab- 

 dallah, I was told that he had, many weeks before, 

 sold all my property ; and taking the price, was gone 

 into a distant country, no one knew wither. Despair 

 siezed upon my soul ; I flung myself upon the earth 

 and became senseless ; and when my thoughts 

 returned, what was their sole object — alas! the per- 

 fidy of a friend ! the falsehood of him who was dear 

 to me as my own life ! whom I had trusted as my 

 very soul ! The loss of my possessions was as 

 nothing — I could yet live ; industry might even 

 restore me to wealth, — but what can restore the loss 



