32 THE MOST WRETCHED. 



of a friend ? Alas, I distrust all men ; the confidence 

 of my own heart has left me ; the captive who pines 

 in a dungeon, or the slave perishing of thirst in the 

 midst of the desert, is not so wretched as I am — for 

 they have not known the falsehood of Abdallah ! '' 



As Alhamet finished his story, the Sultan was 

 lost in sympathy : he shared the sorrows of him who 

 mourned the deceit of a friend ; at length he spoke 

 thus : — 



" The griefs of him who lost the ring are least, for 

 even I, a mortal man as he is, can restore the boon 

 for which he pines. The gem on this finger is enough 

 to call back peace to the soul of the mourner ; why 

 should any one be wretched whom so small a cost 

 may make happy ! " 



" He who weepeth for his dead son, hath an anguish 

 far greater than the fisherman, for he shall find no 

 solace on this side Paradise — but God can hereafter 

 recompense him, and after the last day he shall 

 again clasp to his bosom the dear son, whom he shall 

 behold no more on earth : joy will then be added to 

 him for all he suffers now — let him bear in patience 

 the chastening of the Most High ! '' 



'* The griefs of Alhamet are greatest of all ; for 

 what can compare with the perjuries of a friend? 

 Abdallah can be restored to him no more ; neither 

 in this world, nor in that which shall be. The traitor 

 quencheth even the mercy of God ; — the light of 

 Paradise may shine on Alhamet, but it shall remind 

 him for ever of the darkness of Abdallah ! " 



