182 Haroun, the Lonely Man of Shiraz. [Alve. 
leap out of the blue waters, and then drop in again, and the next 
instant it was followed by the bursting up of a thousand drops of water 
of a diamond-like lustre and beauty. ‘“ O, excellent spirit!” he ex~ 
claimed, “if I understand the true meaning of those indications, the 
golden fish shews me where the gold lies, and the water-drops where the 
diamonds lie darkly buried.” The fish leaped up again, and the water 
sprang up like a fountain, and fell in twice a thousand drops into the 
very circle which their last agitations had made on the surface of the 
stream. Hewas now convinced, and leaping in once more, swam to the 
spot marked out for his search by the rippling rings which still widened 
on the surface, and diving down, there beheld, as well as the water 
getting into his eyes would permit him, the twenty jars, standing like so 
amany funeral urns of the ancient dead, side by side ina regular row, as if 
they had been fixed there by some strong-handed power. It was enough, 
he was satisfied—so getting out of the river, he hurried on his few 
garments, and hastened home like one distracted, where arriving, he 
called up his wives, who had not yet shaken off the fingers of sleep from 
their lids ; they heard his call and awoke. “ Be happy, my wives, be 
happy, and bless the gracious and good Alla! for you are the first 
favourites of heaven and all good spirits.” They understood not his 
words nor his wildness ; but nevertheless they seemed happy enough 
that they had lost their cruel late lord and tyrant for a merry and wild 
young fellow. 
« Call up my children,” commanded Haroun, “ for I must see them 
directly, that they may know that they have a father who is a father 
from heaven to them ; call the little rascals my children-chickens hither, 
for I have some crumbs of comfort will make each of their two eyes to 
sparkle with the lustre of four stars, and their lips to tingle with shouting. 
Go, bring them before me, go—I long to embrace the young rogues, 
whilst my heart is overflowing with human kindness for them—ay, and 
for all mankind—go, my dear good wives.” The wives stared and 
wondered, and, what is most extraordinary, though they were inquisi- 
tive, they did not ask a question of Haroun as to the meaning of his 
extravagance. As for him, he dropt from exhaustion on the couch 
which had been his bed in the morning. He seized his kaleoon, and 
attempted to sooth the hubbub of his mind into calmness by its grateful, 
brain-appeasing fumes. At that moment the children entered with 
child-like shyness and awe of their new father; they were a handsome 
lively nest of young rogues. Haroun’s good-natured eyes assured them 
that they had nothing to fear from him, for they ran over with 
humanity, and a yearning tenderness for their innocent, helpless state. 
His good-looking and good-humoured face, too, was all over one smile 
of pleasure and satisfaction; and his voice was like a song of love; so 
that in a few moments he was half choked by their caresses and half 
smothered by the young urchins themselves, who rolled and clambered 
up him and over him as he lay on the couch, like so many playful 
whelps about their father the lion. These indications exhibiting, as 
decidedly as he could have wished, their opinion of the new father in 
fond preference of the old one, he kissed them twenty times all 
round, and telling the boys that they should become princes and the 
girls empresses, he dismissed them to their breakfast of rice and romping, 
and calming himself as well as he might, he bade his wives array them- 
selves in their richest robes, if they had any, and if not, to command 
