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Article THE CHOICE OF ABDALA: ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Choice Of Abdala:
But the sultan was a tyrant , who little regarded the virtues of his Son . _ Conscious of his own cruelty , he was incessantly a prey to suspicions , which infused poison into his cup at the voluptuous banquet , and scattered thorns on the downy couch . Alman ' zor beheld his son with a malignant eye , that darted rancour whenever he recollected the popularity his virtues had acquired . He even conceived a design to destroy himbecausein the visions
, , of the night , he had seen him seated on the throne . But the mutes who were destined to perpetrate the horrid deed , gave the prince an intimation of his danger , and advised him to retire . There was a magnanirrity iu Abdala , theuioble result of conscious innocence , which would not permit him to adopt this advice : on the contrary , he determined to repair to the presence of his
father , and remonstrate with him on the cruel purpose of his soul . " My father , " said he , " I am come to shew the implicit obedience of a son . Thou hast ordered me into thy presence ; I am acquainted with thy design ; and if thou continue unjust and inexorable , I must await the stern decree with the submission of thy meanest subjecti But filial duty impels me to warn thee of the awful .
consequences The angel of death will convey me to the blissful regions of paradise ; but thou wilt be incessantly haunted by the demon of remorse . Andj in the moment of thy dissolution , which must one day arrive , what anguish and horror will overwhelm thee !" These words sunk into the tyrant ' s heart . Dismayed by
reflections on the past , and the prospect of the future , he gave the signalto the mutes , to permit the destined victim to retire . ' 1 he young prince repaired to an adjacent grove , to muse , in secret anguishj on the miseries of the people . lie laid himself down at the foot of a stately palm ; ands absdrbed in these reflections , insensibly dropped asleep . But his repose Was short and disturbed ; his waking thoughts haunted him in his dreams . When he awoke
, he looked around for the ministers of death , who had appeared , in his sleep , just ready to execute the tyrant ' s inhuman command . Instantly , a celestial form stood before him , and , awhile gales of ambrosial sweetness breathed around , addressed him in these words : * - * . Abdala I be not oppressed with grief . Awake to th ' e pleasures of hope . Be prepared for happy events . Thy genius will meet- thee
again . "—Pie instantly vanished in a trail of light . Abdala fancied he was still asleep . He , rose from his grassy fcouch ; and , convinced , at last , that he was awake , wandering through the gsovej musing intently on the vision he had seen . On a sudden , he perceived three female forms approaching . The smiles and graces sported on the rosy cheeksof the youngestand
, ; the sprightly thought beamed from her speaking eyes . The deportment of the eldest was solemn : her cheeks were pallid ; she appeared in the sable stole of sorrow ; and the tear trickled Oft from her dejected eye . Tlie third was grave , but not gloomy : her attire simple , but not inelegant ; her roseate hue was the charming flush of health ; and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Choice Of Abdala:
But the sultan was a tyrant , who little regarded the virtues of his Son . _ Conscious of his own cruelty , he was incessantly a prey to suspicions , which infused poison into his cup at the voluptuous banquet , and scattered thorns on the downy couch . Alman ' zor beheld his son with a malignant eye , that darted rancour whenever he recollected the popularity his virtues had acquired . He even conceived a design to destroy himbecausein the visions
, , of the night , he had seen him seated on the throne . But the mutes who were destined to perpetrate the horrid deed , gave the prince an intimation of his danger , and advised him to retire . There was a magnanirrity iu Abdala , theuioble result of conscious innocence , which would not permit him to adopt this advice : on the contrary , he determined to repair to the presence of his
father , and remonstrate with him on the cruel purpose of his soul . " My father , " said he , " I am come to shew the implicit obedience of a son . Thou hast ordered me into thy presence ; I am acquainted with thy design ; and if thou continue unjust and inexorable , I must await the stern decree with the submission of thy meanest subjecti But filial duty impels me to warn thee of the awful .
consequences The angel of death will convey me to the blissful regions of paradise ; but thou wilt be incessantly haunted by the demon of remorse . Andj in the moment of thy dissolution , which must one day arrive , what anguish and horror will overwhelm thee !" These words sunk into the tyrant ' s heart . Dismayed by
reflections on the past , and the prospect of the future , he gave the signalto the mutes , to permit the destined victim to retire . ' 1 he young prince repaired to an adjacent grove , to muse , in secret anguishj on the miseries of the people . lie laid himself down at the foot of a stately palm ; ands absdrbed in these reflections , insensibly dropped asleep . But his repose Was short and disturbed ; his waking thoughts haunted him in his dreams . When he awoke
, he looked around for the ministers of death , who had appeared , in his sleep , just ready to execute the tyrant ' s inhuman command . Instantly , a celestial form stood before him , and , awhile gales of ambrosial sweetness breathed around , addressed him in these words : * - * . Abdala I be not oppressed with grief . Awake to th ' e pleasures of hope . Be prepared for happy events . Thy genius will meet- thee
again . "—Pie instantly vanished in a trail of light . Abdala fancied he was still asleep . He , rose from his grassy fcouch ; and , convinced , at last , that he was awake , wandering through the gsovej musing intently on the vision he had seen . On a sudden , he perceived three female forms approaching . The smiles and graces sported on the rosy cheeksof the youngestand
, ; the sprightly thought beamed from her speaking eyes . The deportment of the eldest was solemn : her cheeks were pallid ; she appeared in the sable stole of sorrow ; and the tear trickled Oft from her dejected eye . Tlie third was grave , but not gloomy : her attire simple , but not inelegant ; her roseate hue was the charming flush of health ; and