504 The Moth with the Golden Wings. [Nov. 
drink with which I treat the fortunate few whom I condeseend to receive 
in love.and friendship.” The slave quickly brings the desired diquor, 
which, Giaftar presents,in a golden vessel..to his easy guests ‘Honour 
to the Prophet! this is surely not wine.’ —“ Wine!” replied, Giaffar in 
seeming anger; ‘‘ but you are a stranger, and know, not  that,»I-have 
thrice travelled to Mecca’s holy shrine. . Wine, in the dwelling-place of 
the faithful!” . Beber, not wishing again to excite a violence, the cha- 
racter of which he so well remembered (for his leg, although it,had 
been carefully attended by the slaves, still at intervals pained him griev- 
ously), drank off the potion, to the evident, satisfaction of Giaffar, 
Beber, in his agitation, had not discovered the Moth with the Golden 
Wings, which fluttered around him whilst he held the vessel in his hand, 
but vanished on the instant he emptied it. « There is but one God!” 
stammered Beber, as he took the cup from his lips, and, trembling.in 
every part, he fell senseless to the earth. Giaffar, on this, exclaimed 
to Bacroc and his fellows, “ Dispose of the fool!” and, carrying with 
him Beber’s bag of jewels, he re-entered the house. . The slaves, with 
whom we shall for a time leave Beber, bear him insensible from the 
gardens, ; 
Now it so happened that Giaffar was a great favourite of the Sultan, 
who had entrusted him with a vast sum of money to purchase jewels, 
which his highness intended to present his daughter on her approaching 
marriage. Early in the morning, the chief of the Sultan’s eunuchs, with 
a suitable train, waited upon Giaffar, to demand of him the success of 
his mission. Giaffar received the messenger with all possible, dignity, 
and ceremoniously placed in his hand, enveloped in a rich, cloth of 
gold, the silken bag and jewels of the luckless Beber.. ‘Thrice for- 
tunate am I, the slave of the Sultan, in having been so quickly, and, so 
admirably suited with that desired by my master. You hold, my, good 
Mesrour, jewels of the most astonishing beauty; they shine even as 
lumps of the sun.” Upon hearing this, the eunuch was, about to indulge 
his eyesight with a peep at his splendid charge, when he was prevented 
by Giaffar: “ Pardon me, good Mesrour ; but Mahomet, forbid that I 
should permit any one to look upon the jewels before his Greatness the 
Sultan himself.” Mesrour, being a subtle courtier, felt the full force of 
such an objection, and saluting Giaffar, quitted him for the presence of 
the Sultan. Arrived at the palace, Mesrour found the Sultan and his 
court assembled in full state. The eunuch, prostrating himself before 
the throne, delivered into the hands of the Sultan the purchase of 
Giaffar. “ He is a good and a faithful servant,” said the Sultan, as he 
directed the golden napkin to be taken from the jewels.‘ Know,” 
he continued, “ it pleaseth us to inform the faithful, that we intend to 
bestow one of our daughters in marriage, and therefore haye entrusted 
our good servant Giaffar to purchase the bridal present.” On, this a 
murmur of applause ran through the court, which was, however, speedily 
turned into astonishment, when, on the Sultan’s snatching from, his 
officer the contents of the golden cloth, he displayed to the court.a 
heap of withered buds of flowers, entangled in a large cobweb! _.‘* Mes- 
rour,” exclaimed the Sultan, “ how is this? I send you for jewels,.and 
you dare to bring me shrivelled flowers in the web of a spider!”) All 
the court stood aghast as Mesrour, prostrating himself before the throne, 
briefly yet tremblingly uttered, “Commander of the Faithful, such 
as I received such have I given to you!” “ Ah! Giaffar mocks, our 
