MISCELLANEOUS. ESSAYS. | 
under thy window; 1 myself 
have heard the sound of instru- 
ments and voices; and yet none 
but thyself has been found in thy 
chamber. Where are thy compa- 
nions? ‘J have,’’ said I, ** none.”’ 
«© Listen,’”? replied the Caliph ; 
«* thy physiognomy interests and 
pleases me, and thy youth excites 
my pity. Iam willing to pardon 
thee, but I expect a sincere con- 
fession.’’ ‘* No, my lord,’’ answered 
I, ** you will not pardon a man 
who shall be mean enough to in- 
form against his companions and 
friends.’”? ‘* Well!” exclaimed the 
Caliph with violence, ‘ all the 
Christians at present in Bagdat 
shall be this day put in irons,’ 
“© They will be in that situation 
only a few hours,’’ said I ina tran- 
quil tone; ‘‘and who shall set them 
free ??’>—** I, my lord.”’ At this 
answer the Caliph became mute 
with astonishment, and doubted 
whether he should pronounce my 
sentence, er dismiss me as a person 
insane. I began therefore again thus 
*toaddress him. ‘Sir, I can venture 
to protest to you, that 1 have not 
disobeyed your orders, and that J 
was alone, of which it will be very 
easy to convince you, if you will 
deign to send for the chest of 
drawers, which is in my chamber. 
I will openin your presence this mys- 
terious article of furniture, and you 
will find in it a complete evidence of 
my innocence.’’ The Caliph, whose 
astonishment was augmented by 
this discourse, issued immediately 
the order for which I solicited, 
and my organ was conveyed into 
his apartment. While I employed 
myself in putting it into order, the 
Caliph, who waited with as much 
curiosity as impatience for the ca- 
tastrophe of this singular scene, 
went out for the princess Abassa 
[A85 
his sister, gave her an account of 
our conversation, and returned 
along with her. ‘The princess, co- 
vered with a long veil, which con- 
cealed entirely her shape and her 
face, placed herself on one of the 
cushions bv the side of her brother 
at alittle distance from, and in front 
of the organ, Then I asked per. 
mission of the Caliph to seat myself 
opposite my chest of drawers; and, 
at the same instant, I began to play, 
and to sing. The Caliph imme- 
diately heard those powerful and 
harmonious sounds imitating so 
completely flutes, horns, hautboys, 
and the human voice; when start- 
ing from his seat with wonder 
and delight, ‘¢ is it possible,’ said 
he, ‘* that these drawers are an 
instrument of music ?”’ ‘* Yes, my 
lord,”? replied I, ‘and I invented 
it to soften the severity of your 
prohibition.”? ‘* In prohibiting 
these assemblies,’’ said the Caliph, 
‘¢ T wished principally to prevent 
the celebrity and solemnity which 
the unién of different instruments 
and several voiees give to your 
ceremonies ; I did not foresee that 
there could be such an ingenious 
contrivance to abrogate my edict ; 
but it is but just,’’ added he, ‘that 
those who are compelled to obe- 
dience should be more inventive 
than their governors.’’ Saying 
these words, he turned towards 
Abassa, to ask her what she thought 
of this adventure. Immediately 
the most soothing and ‘delightful 
voice which had ever yet attra&ted 
my ear, requested him in expres- 
sions the most flattering for me, 
to recompense the author of so 
wonderful an invention.’’ ‘* Young 
man,’? said the Caliph, who then 
approached’ me, ‘*1 admire the 
arts and every species of talents ; 
thy person also pleases me. I de- 
be | aire 
