502 The Moth with the Golden Wings. [ Nov. 
Beber through many turnings and bye-ways, at, length, brought him into 
a most beautiful. ganden...Here the .Moth began to,revel among the 
flowers, which seemed sensible of its caresses, and, in a manner,returned 
them. Now.the Moth would alight upon a rose-bud, which would. instantly 
burst into a full-blown flower ; and then again slightly, collapse.its leaves; 
as though wishing to confine the insect in itsfragrant prison.. .After the 
Moth.had thus dallied with many of the beauties of the. place,,it boldly 
flew, into the hand of Beber, which it quickly left, to.visit.a.flower, and 
then, as speedily returned. After the Moth had continued these, move- 
ments for some time, Beber thought he would pluck a flower: scarcely 
does he pull a damask rose from its stalk, when the leaves curl,together as 
though scorched by fire, their colour flashes with an added brilliancy, and 
that which but a moment before was a flower on the tree, becomes, ,in.the 
hand of Beber, an inestimable ruby. Delight succeeds astonishment;.,Beber 
now plucks flowers of every hue, touched by the wings of the, Moth ;.and 
in a few minutes he has jewels of every colour and, description, ..from 
pearls transformed from lilies, to amber from sunflowers... Whilst. Beber 
was thinking where he should hide away his riches, he accidentally 
touched a-spider’s web depending from one of the trees, and, it,instantly 
burst forth into innumerable colours, and became, as it were, a rainbow - 
of silk, which Beber instantly took, and deposited therein, his newly- 
found riches. , 
Day was now fast approaching to a close ; and Beber, on looking round 
for his good genius, the Moth with the Golden Wings, found it had fled 
he knew not whither. Hereupon was Beber puzzled; for he knew not 
how to depart, from a place into which he had been introduced, he knew 
not how... Whilst. Beber was engaged arranging the jlittle wit sudden 
good fortune had left him, in order to deliver himself from his present 
perplexity, he perceived a long procession of attendants coming,down 
the garden; and in an instant Beber, surrendering his.soul and body 
into the keeping of Allah, disposed himself into.a,very ball, androlled 
under the friendly boughs of a neighbouring tree., Now, although Beber 
had degraded himself as much as possible from. the upright bodily, dignity 
of man, he had nevertheless, like a wise. politician,, so) disposed. his 
eyes as not to be confounded by darkness in the general lumps; He be- 
held a numerous body of attendants. halt. just opposite his hiding+place, 
where they commenced preparations for a splendid feast. They brought 
with them vessels of gold and silver, with the most delicate, cates; they 
spread. the carpets, arranged the cushions; the grand. carver was.at-his 
post, and nothing was wanting but the master of the feast to.commence 
the. banquet... Ina few minutes the great man: himself appeared); and 
Beber|shuddered.as he beheld his savage aspect. . Giaffar_(for that,.was 
his name) was indeed a cruel and relentless man: the bones of many,.of 
his once-beautiful. Circassian slaves, if rumour, might, ‘be -trusted,had 
long whitened beneath the surge ; and even the bowels of the -earth,en- 
closed his victims.. The feast. began. and ended in silence); the,ceffee 
went its round, and the dancing-girls had. performed. theix;velaptuous 
measure. Giaffar questioned the slave respecting some trifling! formality 
which had been unobserved in the economy of his chiboques whem the 
menial. yentured a reply: Giaffar, starting from his cushion, -threw-his 
ataghan at the offender—who, however, by,an adroit movement, €seaped 
the blow, and the weapon went whizzing onward, and, falling ateas dis+ 
tance, sheathed itself in the calf of the unhappy Beber’s: leg; whe 
