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the young man. "I draw landscapes, sometimes upon the walls of a chamber, sometimes upon canvass. To visit foreign countries is certainly my chief wish, for there one sees many beautiful landscapes, which he can transfer to the canvass; and what he copies from nature is always more perfect than that which he himself invents."

The Sheik now considered these beautiful young people, and his countenance became sad and dark. "I also had once a dear son," said he, "and he must now be grown up as you are. Were be restored to me, you might be his fellows and companions, and each of your wishes would then easily be fulfilled. With that one should he read; with this, hear music; with the other, should he in-ite friends, and be happy and of good cheer; and with the painter, I would let him travel into far countries, for then he would return to me again. But Allah has not so willed it, and I resign myself to his pleasure without murmuring. But it stands in my power, nevertheless, to gratify all your wishes, and you shall go with a happy heart from the house of Ali Banu. You, my learned friend," he continued, turning to the scribe, "dwell henceforth in my house, and have the charge of my books. You may add thereto what you will, what you esteem good, and your only employment shall be, when you have read anything truly beautiful, to relate it to me. You, who love a good table with good friends, you shall be the overseer of my pleasures. I, myself, it is true, live solitarily and without joy; but it is my duty, and my office demands it of me, that I should now and then feast many guests. You shall, in my place, provide for all, and you can invite your

friends hither, when you will—it is understood to something better than watermelons. I may not truly draw away the young merchant from his business, which brings him both profit and honor; but every evening, my young friend, dancers, singers and musicians are at your service, as many as you will. Let them play and dance for you after your heart's desire. And you," he said to the painter, " you shall see foreign countries, and sharpen your eye by experience. My treasurer will hand you a thousand pieces of gold for your first journey, which you may commence tomorrow, and in addition two horses and a slave. Travel whither your heart impels you, and if you see anything beautiful, paint it for me."

The young people were beside themselves with wonder, speechless from joy and gratitude. They would have kissed the floor before the good man's feet, but he would not permit it. "If you have any one to thank, it is this wise man who spoke to me of you. He has procured to me also a pleasure thereby, in bringing to my acquaintance four such excellent young people."

But the Dervish Mustapha motioned away the thanks of the youths. "See you not," said he, "that one must never judge precipitately; have I said too much to you of this noble man?"

"Let us hear another of the slaves, who to-day are to be made free," interrupted Ali Banu, and the youths betook themselves to their places.

The young slave who had attracted the attention of all in so high a degree, by his shape, his beauty and bold glance, now arose, bowed himself before the Sheik, and commenced with a harmonious voice to speak as follows:

THE HISTORY OF ALMANZOR.

"OH! my lord the men who have spoken before me, have related various strange histories, which they have heard in foreign lands; I must, with shame, confess, that I know no story worthy of exciting your attention. Yet if it will not weary you, I will recount the singular fortunes of one of my friends.

"In that Algerine corsair ship, from which your mild hand rescued me, was a young man of my years, who seemed not born for the slave's habit which he The other unhappy creatures

wore.

on board, were either rude men, with whom I unwillingly associated, or people whose language I did not understand; at those times, therefore, when we had an hour of leisure, it was a great pleasure to me to be with this young man. He called himself Almanzor, and to judge from his accent, he was an Egyptian. We conversed very pleasantly with one another, and one day came to tell our histories, and that of my friend was certainly much more remarkable than mine.

"Almanzor's father was a distinguish ed man in an Egyptian city, the name of which he did not mention to me. During the days of his childhood, he lived happily, gaily, and surrounded by all the splendor and luxury of the earth. But he was not, on this account, effeminately educated; his character was early formed; for his father was a wise man, who taught him the lessons of virtue, and he had also a renowned sage for his teacher, who instructed him in everything which a young man should know. Almanzor was about ten years old, when the Franks came over the sea into the land, and carried on war with his people.

"The father of the boy could not have been very favorable to these strangers; for one day, as he was about to go to the morning prayer, they came, and demanded first his wife as a hostage for his true thoughts towards the Franks, and as he refused to give her up, they dragged his son forcibly with them into their camp.

When the young slave had thus far related, the Sheik veiled his face, and there arose a murmur of displeasure in the apartment. "How," exclaimed the friends of the Sheik, "how can this young man act so foolishly, and tear open anew by such tales the wounds of Ali Banu, instead of soothing them; how can he renew his pain, instead of dispelling it?" The overseer of the slaves himself was full of anger at the inconsiderate youth, and commanded him to be silent. The young slave was much astonished at all this, and asked the Sheik if there was anything in his narration that had excited his displeasure? The Sheik, at these words, looked up, and said: "Be at peace, friends. How can this youth know anything of my sad lot, since it is scarce three days that he has been under my roof? Can it not be, that amid the cruelties which those Franks exercised, a fate similar to mine has occurred? May not, perhaps, even that young Almanzor-but relate farther, my young friend." The young slave bowed, and continued:

The young Almanzor then was car ried into the Frankish camp. On the whole, it went well with him there; for one of the chiefs took him into his tent, and being pleased with the answers of the boy, which a Dragoman was obliged to translate, he took all care of him, so

that he wanted nothing in food or clothing; yet still his desire after his father and mother made him in the highest degree unhappy. He wept for many long days, but his tears did not move these men. The camp was broken up, and Almanzor thought that he would be permitted to return; but it was not so; the army marched back and forth, fought with the Mamelukes, and he was always carried with them. When he prayed the chiefs and officers to let him return home, they refused, and said he must remain as a pledge of his father's fidelity. Thus he was many days with them upon the march.

Suddenly there arose movements in the army, which did not escape the boy; they spoke of packing up, of marching back, of embarking; and Almanzor was beside himself with joy; for now, if the Franks returned to their land, now he would be set at liberty. They marched towards the coast, with horse and foot, and at last came in sight of the ships that lay at anchor. The soldiers embarked, but night came on, and still only a small portion were on board. Notwithstanding Almanzor's great desire to remain awake, since he expected every moment to be set free, yet he fell at last into a deep slumber, and he believed that the Franks had mingled something with his water to put him to sleep. When he awoke, the bright day shone into a little chamber, in which he had not been the evening before. He sprang up from his couch, but the moment he touched the floor, he fell, for it rocked back and forth, and everything seemed to dance in a circle around him. A singular roaring and whistling was heard without; he knew not whether he was dreaming or awake. He at last reached a small stairs, ascended it with difficulty, and-what horror fell upon him! he was in a ship; all around there was nothing to be seen but the heavens and the sea. He prayed to be carried back, he wished to plunge into the waves and swim across to his home; but the Franks held him fast, and one of their chiefs called him and promised him, if he would be obedient he should return, and explained to him that it had not been possible for them, on their march from the inner country, to carry him home, but, that he would have miserably perished if they had left him behind in the desert.

But they did not keep their word

those Franks; for the ship sailed farther and farther for many days, and when at last it came to land, it was not at the coast of Egypt, but at Frangistan! Almanzor, during this long voyage, and before, in the camp of the Franks, had learned to speak and understand their language, which was now very useful to him in this land, where no one understood his own. For several days he was carried into the interior of the country, and the people everywhere throng ed to see him, for his conductors said that he was the son of the King of Egypt, who had sent him to Frangistan to be instructed.

The soldiers said this to make the people believe that they had conquered Egypt, and stood in perfect peace with that land. After their journey had lasted several days, they arrived at a large city, the aim and end of their travels. There he was committed to the charge of a physician, who took him into his house, and instructed him in their manners and customs.

In the first place he was obliged to put on Frankish clothes which were very tight and uncomfortable, and by far less beautiful than his Egyptian ones. Then he was permitted no longer to make his obeisance with crossed arms, but if he wished to testify his respect for any one, he must tear from his head an enormous cap of black felt which all wore, and which they had placed upon him also; and scrape with his right foot. He was no longer permitted to sit with crossed legs, as is the pleasant custom in the East, but he must seat himself upon a high-legged chair, and let his feet hang down to the floor. Eating also gave him no little trouble, for everything he would bring to his mouth, he must first place it upon a fork of iron.

The doctor was a strict, ill-natured man, and misused the boy; for if at any time, he forgot himself when on a visit, and said "Salaam Aleikam," he would strike him with his cane, for he should "votre serviteur." He might no say longer, write, speak or think in his own language; at most he could only dream in it; and he would perhaps have forgotten it entirely, if there had not lived a man in that city who was of the greatest benefit to him.

This was an old but very learned man, who understood many eastern languages, Arabian, Persian, Coptic, Chinese even, a little of each. He was es

teemed a prodigy of learning in his land, and they gave him much money for teaching these languages to other people. This man invited the young Almanzor to his house once every week, regaled him with rare fruits and the like, and at these times it seemed to the youth as if he were transported to his own land. The old gentleman was a singular man. He had caused garments to be made for Almanzor, such as are worn by the distinguished young people of Egypt. These garments he kept in his house in a particular chamber. When Almanzor came he sent him with a servant into that chamber, and let him clothe himself after the fashion of his own land. From this chamber they went into "little Arabia;" so they called a saloon in the house of this savant.

This saloon was adorned with artificially reared trees, such as palms, cypresses, young cedars and the like, and with flowers which only grow in the East. Persian carpets covered the floor, and cushions were placed against the wall; nowhere was there a Frankish chair or table to be seen. Upon one of these cushions sat the old Professor; but his appearance was very different from what it was commonly. Around his head he had wound a fine Turkish shawl for a turban, and he had put on a beard which reached down to his girdle, and looked like the natural reverend beard of an important man. He wore besides a talar which had been made out of a brocade dressing-gown, wide Turkish trowsers, yellow slippers; and as peaceable as he appeared on other occasions, yet on this day he had a Turkish cimeter buckled around him, and placed in his girdle a poignard set with false jewels. In addition he smoked a pipe two yards in length, and was attended by servants who were likewise dressed in the Persian manner, and whose faces and hands were colored black.

At first all this seemed very singular to the young Almanzor, but he soon perceived that if he humored the thoughts of the old man, such hours would be very useful to him. If at the doctor's he was not allowed to speak an Egyptian word, here the Frankish language was forbidden; upon his entrance Almanzor must speak the greeting of peace which the old Persian would return very solemnly; then he beckoned

the youth to sit near him, and began to speak Persian, Arabic, Coptic-all of these languages together, and this was called a learned Eastern conversation. Near him stood a servant, or one who on this day represented a slave, who held a large book; this book was a dictionary, and when the words escaped the old man's memory, he beckoned to the slave, looked quickly for what he wished to say, and then went on with his discourse.

The slaves brought sherbet and the like in Turkish vessels, and if Almanzor would give great pleasure to the old man, he had only to say that all was arranged as in the East. The youth read the Persian very beautifully, and this was of great advantage to the old professor. He had many manuscripts in this language, and he made the young man read them before him, then read them himself afterwards attentively, and in this way marked the correct ac

cent.

These were happy days for the poor Almanzor, for the Professor never dismissed him unrewarded, and he often carried home valuable presents in money and linen stuffs or other necessaries which the doctor would give him. Thus lived the young man for some years in the chief city of Frangistan, and his desire after his home never diminished. When he was about fifteen years old, an occurrence happened which had the greatest influence upon his fate.

The Franks, to wit, had chosen their first General, the same with whom he had so often spoken in Egypt, for their Sultan and ruler. Almanzor, it is true, recognized by the great festivities that something of this kind had happened in this large city, but he did not imagine that the king was the same man whom he had seen in his own land, for the General was still a very young man. One day Almanzor crossed the bridge which extends over the broad river that flows through the city: he perceived there a man in the simple habit of a soldier, who was leaning against the railing of the bridge, and looking down into the waves. The features of this man attracted his attention, and he called to mind tha the had before seen him. He went then quickly through the chambers of his memory, and when he came to the gate of the chamber of Egypt, he found that this man was that

chief of the Franks, with whom he had often spoken in the camp, and who had always kindly provided for him. He knew not exactly the right name, but he took heart, stepped up to him, called him as the soldiers called him among themselves, and said, "Salaam aleikam, Petit Caporal."

The man looked around with surprise, glanced at the young man with sharp eyes, reflected a moment, and then said, "Heaven! is it possible! Thou here, Almanzor! How is thy father? How goes it in Egypt? What brings thee hither?"

Almanzor could no longer restrain himself, he began to weep bitterly, and said: "Thou dost not know what those hounds thy countrymen have done with me, Petit Caporal. Thou dost not know that for many years I have not seen the land of my fathers."

"I cannot think"-said the man, and his brow became dark. "It cannot be that they have forced thee away with them?"

"Yes, truly," answered Almanzor. "On that day when your soldiers embarked, I saw my native land for the last time. They took me away with them, and a chief, who was moved by my wretchedness, paid out my board to an accursed doctor who beats me and lets me half die with hunger. But listen, Petit Caporal," he continued earnestly, "it is well that I have met thee here: thou must help me."

The man to whom he said this smiled, and asked in what way he should help him.

"See," said Almanzor; "it were unreasonable that I should desire anything of thee; thou wast always so kind to me, and I know that thou art a poor man, and though a general, yet thou never wast so finely dressed as the others; even now, to judge from thy coat and hat, thou canst not be in the best circumstances. But here have the Franks lately chosen a sultan, and without doubt thou knowest people who are permitted to approach him-perhaps his Aga of the Janizaries, or his Reis Effendi, or his Capudan Bacha; is it not so?"

"Well-yes," answered the man, "and what farther?"

"Thou canst speak a good word for me with these, Petit Caporal, that they pray the sultan of the Franks to set me at liberty; then I shall need some money

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"Now!" cried the youth, in affright; "not for the world. The doctor would beat me; I must hasten home."

"What have you in this basket?" asked the former, detaining him. Almanzor blushed, and at first would not show him; at last, however, he said: "See, Petit Caporal, see how I am obliged to serve like the meanest slave in my father's house. The doctor is an avaricious man, and sends me every day a league from the house to the vegetable and fish markets, because things are cheaper there by a few sous than in our part of the city. Look! I must walk every day two leagues for these poor herrings, this handful of salad, and this bit of butter."

The man to whom Almanzor said this, was moved at the misery of the boy, and answered: "Only come with me, and be of good courage; the doctor shall do you no harm, though he shall dine to-day on neither herring nor salad. Be comforted and come." With these words he took Almanzor by the hand to lead him along, and, although his heart beat when he thought of the doctor, yet there was so much to inspire confidence in the words and mien of this man, that he resolved to accompany him. He walked, then, by the side of the soldier, through various streets, and he could not but think it strange that everybody took off their hats as he passed, and stopped and gazed after him. He remarked this to his companion, but the latter laughed and said nothing.

They came at last to a magnificent castle, toward which the man turned his step. Dost thou dwell here, Petit Caporal?" said Almanzor.

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"Here is my abode," replied the former. "I will lead thee to my wife."

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the sultan has given thee here a free dwelling?"

"Thou art right; I hold this dwelling from the Emperor," answered his companion, and led him into the castle. They ascended a broad flight of steps; he directed him to set down his basket in a spacious saloon, and then entered with him into a splendid chamber, where a lady was sitting upon a divan. The man spoke with her in a foreign language, whereupon they both laughed not a little, and the lady questioned Almanzor much about Egypt. At last, Petit Caporal said to the youth: "I will tell you what is best. I will myself lead you immediately to the Emperor, and speak with him in your behalf.”

Almanzor was much frightened, but he thought upon his misery and his home. "To the unhappy," he said to the two; "to the unhappy, Allah lends a high courage in the hour of need; he will not, then, forsake me, a poor boy. I will do it-I will go to him. But say, Caporal, must I fall down before him? Must I touch the earth with my forehead? What must I do?"

They both laughed anew, and assured him that all this was unnecessary.

"Does he look terribly and majestically?" He asked farther, "Has he a long beard? Has he flashing eyes? Say, how does he look?"

His conductor laughed again, and said: "I had rather not describe him to thee, Almanzor; thou of thyself shalt guess which one is he. This only will I give thee as a sign by which he may be known-all who are in the audience chamber will take off their hats respectfully if he is present-he who remains covered must be the Emperor." With these words, he took Almanzor by the hand, and went with him to the audience chamber. The nearer he came, the louder beat his heart, and his knees to tremble as they approached the door. This was thrown open by an attendant, and in a half circle there stood at least thirty men splendidly dressed, covered with gold and stars, as is the custom in the land of the Franks with the most distinguished agas and bachas of the king, and Almanzor thought that his companion, who was so plainly clothed, must be the least among them. All were uncovered, and the boy commenced to look around for him who kept his hat upon his head, for by this

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