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gardens, one of those basons and fountains, so delightful in a sul- 

 try climate, was replenished, not with water, but with the purest 

 quicksilver. The seraglio of Abdalrahma, his wives, concubines, 

 and black eunuchs, amounted to six thousand three hundred per- 

 sons; and he was attended to the field by a guard of twelve thou- 

 sand horse, whose belts and scimetars were studded with gold." 

 We may profit by the experience of this monarch; for after his 

 decease this authentic memorial was found in his closet: " I have 

 now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace, beloved by my 

 subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. 

 Riches and honours, power and pleasure, Lave waited on my call, 

 nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my feli- 

 city. In this situation I have diligently numbered the days of pure 

 and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to 

 pourteek ! O man, place not thy confidence in this present world!" 

 This reflection of Abdalrahman corresponds with the pathetic 

 exclamation of Vanity from another voluptuous sovereign, re- 

 nowned above all oriental princes for wisdom, wealth, and magni- 

 ficence. The short dynasty of Hydcr, the annihilation of the Mo- 

 gul empire, the prostrate thrones, and tottering crowns of so many 

 European monarchs, all within the short space of twenty years, 

 wonderfully evince the fallacy of mundane speculations, and con- 

 firm the sublime line of the poet: 



" He builds loo low, who builds beneath the skies !" 



It is but justice to the celebrated historian to add his remark 

 on Abdalrahman's memorial, that " the confession of the Arabian 

 monarch, the complaints of Solomon, and the happy ten days of 

 ♦he emperor Seghed, will be triumphantly quoted by the detrae- 



