179 



Haroun al Rascheed, a conspicuous character in the Arabian 

 Nights' Entertainment: " Kessai one day presented himself at the 

 door of the apartment of Al Mamon, to read one of his lectures ; 

 the prince, who was then at table with his companions, wrote him 

 a distich upon a leaf of myrtle; the sense of which was, There is a 

 time for study, and a time for diversion: this is an hour I have 

 destined for the enjoyment of friends, wine, roses, and myrtle. 

 Kessai having read this distich, answered it upon the back of the 

 same myrtle leaf in four lines; the meaning of them as follows: 

 If you had understood the excellence of knowledge, you would 

 have preferred the pleasure that gives, to what you at present en- 

 joy in company; and if you knew who it is that is at your door, 

 you would immediately rise, and come and prostrate yourself on 

 the ground, praising and thanking God for the favour he had be- 

 stowed upon you. Al Mamon had no sooner heard these verses 

 than he quitted his company, and came to his preceptor." 



How happily does this anecdote illustrate that passage in the 

 " Wisdom of Solomon," where the folly of inconsiderate youth is 

 thus represented: " Come on therefore, let us enjoy the good things 

 that are present; let us fill ourselves with costly wine and oint- 

 ments; and let no flower of the spring pass by us: let us crown 

 ourselves with rose-buds before they be withered/' 



Similar sentiments prevail in most oriental writings, ancient and 

 modern : the Greek poets were equally fond of them. I shall not 

 introduce the productions of this evening, composed from present 

 objects, not so generally interesting as the following lines, which I 

 have selected from two celebrated Persian poets, as a more, com- 

 plete specimen of the elegant recreation I allude to. 



