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Article THE CHOICE OF ABDALA: ← Page 4 of 5 →
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The Choice Of Abdala:
rate the memory of his crimes . If thou refuse to rei > n over thy people , how great will be their loss ! If thou rei gn but for voluptuous pleasures , how great will be thine ! Be attentive to the felicity of thy people , and thou wilt secure thy own . Be not insensible however , to the voice of pleasure . Listen not to that despcndin * mourner . It is unwise to refrain from temperate enjoyment , be ° intemperance is of
cause productive satiety and disgust , or to abstain from the pleasures which virtue approves , because those pleasures are not immortal . If man be doomed to mourn' forever , and to look with disdain on ail terrestial pleasure , to what end were the faculties of enjoyment bestowed ? Or if levity and sensuality only are productive of happiness , of what value is the reflecting soul ? for the htl *
As yon nymph , sprigy votary of pleasure , with whatallurements can she charm the wise ?—Go : thou art born for empire Perform all the duties of th y exalted station , and thou wilt receive its glorious rewards . Deviate not from the paths of rectitude , nor ever forget the dictates of virtue and benevolence . The o-ood sovereign will enjoy pleasureswhich ihe iendourof dominion
, sp only can never give . His name will be immortal on earth , and the blessings of his people will waft it to heaven . ' The dews of instruction refreshed the soul of Abdala . He embraced the happy system , which distinguished the dictates of wisdom from the suggestions of despair , and displayed the difference between voluptuous pleasure and the true happiness of man . would have instantl
_ He y declared his choice , but , on a sudden the three females vanished . y The sun was retiring from the mountain-tops ; and while . Abdala , whose mind was agitated by what had passed , ivas rcnairiiio- , vvitli pensive step , to the palace of his father , his feet were bewildered in the tangled thicketand the darkness of the niht overtook him
, g . In this gloomy-situation a sudden blaze of splendour was diffused around him . The cottage of the dervise appeared transformed into a magnificent palace , at one of the doors of which stood the wenius invitiiifr him to enter . ° '
Abdala obeyed , and followed his guide . He would have spoken but his voice was restrained by amazement and fear . — ' Mortal , ' said the genius , before he opened the door of the interior aonrtment , ' this is the palace of the genius Orasmundo , who is ever pronitious to the desires of the wise and good . Thy worth and wisdom are known ; and the period is arrived , when thou shalt be happy . ' Then the door
opening , Abdala perceived . three beautiful viro-ins at the loom . They instantly rose to welcome the stranger . ' ° c Behold , ' said the genius , ' and choose a partner for life . ' Which is the object of thy choice ? The name of the eldest is Tristina , the grave ; Serena , the placid , is the second ; and Hilarana , the " -ay , is the third . ' ' ° "" Abdala was dazzled by the splendour of their charms . But in Serena he recollected the features of the nymph to whose lessons he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Choice Of Abdala:
rate the memory of his crimes . If thou refuse to rei > n over thy people , how great will be their loss ! If thou rei gn but for voluptuous pleasures , how great will be thine ! Be attentive to the felicity of thy people , and thou wilt secure thy own . Be not insensible however , to the voice of pleasure . Listen not to that despcndin * mourner . It is unwise to refrain from temperate enjoyment , be ° intemperance is of
cause productive satiety and disgust , or to abstain from the pleasures which virtue approves , because those pleasures are not immortal . If man be doomed to mourn' forever , and to look with disdain on ail terrestial pleasure , to what end were the faculties of enjoyment bestowed ? Or if levity and sensuality only are productive of happiness , of what value is the reflecting soul ? for the htl *
As yon nymph , sprigy votary of pleasure , with whatallurements can she charm the wise ?—Go : thou art born for empire Perform all the duties of th y exalted station , and thou wilt receive its glorious rewards . Deviate not from the paths of rectitude , nor ever forget the dictates of virtue and benevolence . The o-ood sovereign will enjoy pleasureswhich ihe iendourof dominion
, sp only can never give . His name will be immortal on earth , and the blessings of his people will waft it to heaven . ' The dews of instruction refreshed the soul of Abdala . He embraced the happy system , which distinguished the dictates of wisdom from the suggestions of despair , and displayed the difference between voluptuous pleasure and the true happiness of man . would have instantl
_ He y declared his choice , but , on a sudden the three females vanished . y The sun was retiring from the mountain-tops ; and while . Abdala , whose mind was agitated by what had passed , ivas rcnairiiio- , vvitli pensive step , to the palace of his father , his feet were bewildered in the tangled thicketand the darkness of the niht overtook him
, g . In this gloomy-situation a sudden blaze of splendour was diffused around him . The cottage of the dervise appeared transformed into a magnificent palace , at one of the doors of which stood the wenius invitiiifr him to enter . ° '
Abdala obeyed , and followed his guide . He would have spoken but his voice was restrained by amazement and fear . — ' Mortal , ' said the genius , before he opened the door of the interior aonrtment , ' this is the palace of the genius Orasmundo , who is ever pronitious to the desires of the wise and good . Thy worth and wisdom are known ; and the period is arrived , when thou shalt be happy . ' Then the door
opening , Abdala perceived . three beautiful viro-ins at the loom . They instantly rose to welcome the stranger . ' ° c Behold , ' said the genius , ' and choose a partner for life . ' Which is the object of thy choice ? The name of the eldest is Tristina , the grave ; Serena , the placid , is the second ; and Hilarana , the " -ay , is the third . ' ' ° "" Abdala was dazzled by the splendour of their charms . But in Serena he recollected the features of the nymph to whose lessons he