“ As the sands of the desert drink up the drops of rain, or the dew of the morning; so do I also, who am but dust, imbibe the instructions of the Prophet. Believe then, that it is he who tells thee all knowledge is prophane which terminates in thyself; and by a life wasted by speculation, little even of this can be gained. When the gates of Paradise are thrown open before thee, thy mind shall be irradiated in a moment; here thou canst little more than pile error upon error, there thou shalt build truth upon truth. Wait, therefore for the glorious vision; and in the mean time, emulate the eagle. ”

“ I turned again toward the angel, impatient to enquire from what secret source happiness is derived, in a situation so different from that in which it might have been expected; but he again prevented my request: 'Almet,' said he, 'remember what thou hast seen, and let this memorial be written upon the tablet of thy heart. Remember, Almet, that the world in which thou art placed, is but the road to another, and that happiness depend not upon the path, but the end: The value of this period of thy existence is fixed by hope and fear. ”

“ Hast thou not rather the powers of the eagle? Arise, let the eagle be the object of thy emulation. To pain and sickness be thou again the messenger of ease and health. Virtue is not rest but action. If thou dost good to man, as an evidence of thy love to God, thy virtue will be exalted from mortal to divine; and that happiness, which is the pledge of Paradise, will be thy reward upon earth. ”

“ If to produce happiness, by whom is it enjoyed? Do the linens of Egypt, and the silks of Persia, bestow felicity on those who wear them, equal to the wretchedness of yonder slaves, whom I see leading the camels who bring them? Is the fierceness of the texture, or the splendor of the tints, regarded with delight by those to whom custom has tendered them familiar? Or, can the power of habit render others insensible of pain, who live only to traverse the Desert: a scene of dreadful uniformity, where a barren level is bounded only by the horizon ”

“ Thou art still every day busied in the search of food; thy mind is not wholly at rest neither is thy trust in Providence complete. What art thou taught by this vision? if thou hast seen an eagle commissioned by Heaven to feed a fox that is lame, shall not the hand of Heaven also supply thee with food, when that which prevents thee from procuring it to thyself, it is not necessity, but devotion? ”

“ The relief of the poor is equal, whether they receive it from ostentation or charity; and the effect of example is the same, whether it be intended to obtain the favour of God or man. Let thy virtue be thus diffused; and if thou believest with reverence, thou shalt be accepted above. Farewell, May the smile of Him who resides in the Heaven of Heavens be upon thee! And against thy name in the volume of His will may happiness be written!"
The King, whose doubts like those of Mirza, were now removed, looked up with a smile that communicated the joy of his mind. ”

“ ALMET the Dervise, who watched the sacred lamp in the sepulchre of the Prophet, as he one day rose up from the devotions of the morning, which he had performed at the gate of the temple, with his body turned towards the east, and his forehead upon the earth, he saw before him a man in splendid apparel, attended by a long retinue, who gazed steadfastly on him, with a look of mournful complacency, and seemed desirous to speak, with unwilling to offend. ”

“ Thou hast not found felicity in temporal things; and therefore thou art disappointed. Let not instruction be lost upon thee; but go thy way, let thy flock clothe the naked, and thy table feed the hungry; deliver the poor from oppression, and let thy conversation be above. Thus shalt thou rejoice in Hope, and look forward to the end of life, as the consummation of thy felicity."
Almet, in whose breast devotion kindled as he spake, returned into the Temple, and the stranger departed in peace. ”

“ Through the middle, there was a green walk; at the end a wild desert: and beyond, impenetrable darkness. The walk was shaded with trees of every kind, that were covered at once with blossoms and fruit; innumerable birds were singing in the branches; the grass was intermingled which flowers, which impregnated the breeze with fragrance, and painted the path with beauty. ”

“ Do those on whom hereditary diamonds sparkle with unregarded lustre, gain from the possession what is lost by the wretch who seeks them in the mine; who lives excluded from the common bounties of nature; to whom even the vicissitude of day and night is not known; who sighs in perpetual darkness, and whose life is one mournful alternative of insensibility and labour? If those are not happy who possess in proportion as those are wretched who bestow, how vain a dream is the life of man! ”

“ By those alone whose life is brutal, because, like brutes, they do not consider that they should die?--Or who, indeed, are the Faithful?--Are the busy multitudes that crowd the city, in a state of perdition? ”

“ I conceived an opinion, that as there was no merit but a voluntary poverty, and silent meditation, those who desired money were not proper objects of bounty; therefore money was despised. I buried mine in the earth ”

“ To increase the austerity of my life, I frequently watched all night, sitting at the entrance of the cave, with my face to the east, resigning myself to the secret influences of the Prophet, and expecting illumination from above One morning after my nocturnal vigil, just as I perceived the horizon glow at the approach of the sun, the power of sleep became irresistable, and I sunk under it. ”

“ Much is in thy power, and, therefore, much is expected of thee. Though the Almighty alone can give virtue; yet, as a prince, thou mayest stimulate those to beneficence, who act from no higher motive than immediate interest: thou canst not produce the principle, thou mayest enforce the practice. ”

“ The wretch who wished to linger in the garden, who looked round upon its limits with terror, was destitute of enjoyment, because he was destitute of hope, and was perpetually tormented with the dread of losing that which he did enjoy. ”

“ If, in the treasures of thy wisdom, there is any precept to obtain felicity, vouchsafe it to me: for this purpose I am come; a purpose which I yet fear to reveal, lest, like all the former, it should be disappointed."
Almet listened with looks of astonishment ind pity, to this complaint of a being, an whom reason was known to be a pledge of immortality: bnt the serenity of his countenance soon returned; and stretching out his hands towards heaven. "Stranger," said he, "the knowledge which I have received from the Prophet, I will communicate to thee. ”