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BOOK XIV.

CHAPTER I.

MUCH tiresome research among those little cloistered communities now so sparingly dispersed through Syria and Asia Minor; among libraries often comprehended in three or four chests-might fail to discover the following history entire. I will therefore offer an abridgment of it reproduced from memory; as the original MS., if found, is without a date, and written in bastard Arabic difficult to decipher.

The father of Benblunderhedd died during a pilgrimage by land from Aleppo to Jerusalem. At that time the sea was dangerously infested by pirates; and the provident old merchant contemplated some negotiations also with a correspondent in Damascus, which city, alas, he lived not long enough to reach ! "Since it is the Supreme Will, we must submit," said he to his son. "Conquer thy impatience, assuage thy sorrows, dry thy tears, and bury me, without profitless lamentations, here. Thou hast some wealth left behind thee at Aleppo; still more in expectation at Jerusalem; and as for the business which would have drawn us so far out of our way, defer it till a safer opportunity. Address thee now to thy pilgrimage. In Jerusalem thou wilt find two grand

fathers--mine own father and thy deceased mother's father-make haste till thou shalt receive from them their blessing; for they are old and exceeding rich. My son, ever remember that thou art a Christian; and, as a Christian should feel content with what he has, to render this virtue the more easy, get as much as thou canst."

Benblunderhedd entertained so much gratitude and reverence for this best of parents, that his first care was to follow the old man's first advice. He soon conquered his impatience, assuaged his sorrows, dried his tears, and expedited the funeral. As no more money could be found among his father's effects than sufficed for so long a journey, perhaps those tears and that impatience might have burst forth afresh, had they not been restrained by the sight of a costly robe and some two or three valuable rings. He knew that his grandfathers in Jerusalem, affectionate and benevolent as they were, required the most scrupulous punctuality. At Damascus, on the contrary, he had expected to meet, among other acquaintances of his own age, this correspondent's eldest son, who would diversify his pilgrimage with delicate wines, fragrant roses, and a dancing girl or two. It now occurred to him that old men, when very sick, are more distrustful, capricious, light-headed, irrational, and absurdly self-willed than ever; though his venerable father needed no unusual accession of these domestic accomplishments at last, or at any time. A single robe could not have been designed for both his grandfathers; and it was impossible to tell for which. Such jewels, ill appreciated at Jerusalem, were better

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calculated for the brighter eyes and softer climate of Damascus; and therefore to Damascus should they

go.

Unfortunately the deceased merchant's exhortations had been uttered in the presence of both his slaves, who might misinterpret their spiritual sense illiberally, thinking them as stringent as they appeared; and report hereafter disadvantageously to their new master's filial affection, if these last words should be disobeyed. Therefore Benblunderhedd bethought himself that vigilant management would be especially needed now at Aleppo, for the security of his new wealth and the maintenance of his unconfirmed authority. After having spoken at great length on their duties, and with irresistible eloquence on the responsibility which he had intrusted to them, recommending vigilance and fidelity as they would look for rewards or punishments, he sent them back.

It was not till our pilgrim found himself quite alone on his way to Damascus, that the solitude and intricacy of it alarmed him. He began to fear that his costly garment might inflame envy, and the precious rings on his fingers expose him to danger. Displacing and concealing the jewels, he exhibited only the inside or lining of his robe. With similar prudence did he shun the habitations, and as often as he was able, even the presence, of men. But such wisdom has inversely its inconveniences; for it happened that, not daring to ask which might be his best. and his nearest road, he travelled by the worst and the least direct. Beside this, the most experienced

pilgrim, abstinent as he may be, requires something to eat and drink. After several days and nights had been consumed in involuntary mortification, the perplexed Benblunderhedd growing thin, weary, and discontent, by good chance saw before him an elderly innocent-looking rustic, quite alone and hard at study. Standing at the point where two branches diverged widely from a larger road, he consulted some book, holding it close beneath his eyes. The poor man was very clean, and his coarse clothing had no holes in it; but surely a coat so old, so thread-bare, so illfashioned, so unbecoming, so ungenteel, so provocative of mirth, and derision, and disdain, never yet hung on any other back! "As you seem to doubt so much about your own road," said our young traveller, "I feel little hope that you can tell me which is mine."

"It is my misfortune to be both short and thicksighted," said the peasant, "and as most folk think, not much cleverer in some other particulars. When I look to the landmarks, or trust to what wayfarers tell me, I continually make mistakes; but this book, containing as it does many infallible directions and an excellent map, always sets me right. The worst is that it requires so much time and care; for whenever I am at all heedless, or in a hurry, or better inclined to my own opinion, I go farther astray than if it had never been opened by me. Pray, Sir, which road may you be going?"-"I am going to Damascus."

"Then you must first turn your face the other way. Damascus lies behind you at present, north eastward, three or four days' journey off. Having little else in this world to care about, I keep my