Rolfer", who conquered Normandy, and from whom came earl Rudu and the kings of England. The third was Thorer earl of Heigiandi, who married Alofo Arbot daughter of king Haralld Harfagar, and their daughter was Borgliot mother of earl Hakonar ens Rikak. (To be continued.) p. 86 fa MUJNOON: OR, THE DISTRACTED LOVER. A PERSIAN TALE. In imitation of JOUINI. By Capt. WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK. From the Afiatic Mifcellany, printed in Quarto at Calcutta, 1785. TURN ern URNING one morning the eaftcorner of the grand street which leads to the mofque of Rufheed ; my attention was on a fudden engaged by a youth whom I beheld in an attitude expreffive at once of the most poignant grief, and the most earnest devotion; his hands were clafped together and raised before his breaft, which panted as if agitated by fome violent emotion of the foul; the ftrained finews and fwoln mufcles of his extended arms, which were difcernible through a muflin veil of most delicate texture, indicated their union to be eager, if not convulfive. His head, which was negligently NOT E S. Or Rolfer the traveller; he was alfo called Rollo, and was the ancestor of William the Conqueror. i Or Hakonar the powerful. k King of Norway in 900. covered by a loofe but beautiful embroidered turban, inclined fo far bacaward as to occafion a fuffufion of blood over his woe-fraught countenance, that contributed greatly to heighten its expreffion. His eyes feemed immoveably fixed on the over-hanging firmament; his lips had a quick but quivering motion; his left leg, the knee of which was confiderably projected, fupported with dif ficulty his cottering frame; it shook tremblingly, and threatened to fink beneath its unequal weight, no part of which was borne by his right leg, that being ftretched behind him to its utmost length, and the point of his raised foot fcarcely touching the ground. To prevent his fall, I caught him in my arms ere he was aware of my approach. The fuddennefs of the action overpowering his already flitting fenfes, he fainted; upon which, fpreading my upper robe on the earth, I laid him gently down, and feated myself at his head. After I had chafed his temples fome time, he began to breathe, and gradually recovered. At first his large black eyes fpoke a foul labouring with refentment, but prefently their fiercenefs fubfided into a fertled languor. It was not till now that I perceived his vifage thin, and his body emaciated; his fwoln features and furcharged veins, having, while the paroxifm of agony continued, produced a different but illufive appearance. deep-heaved figh, accompanied by an attempt to pronounce the name of Allah, which, however, died away on his lips ere he had quite articulated the firit fyllable, I confidered as ray cue for addrefling the healing words of comfort to his wounded mind: "God is merciful as mighty," faid I, in a foothing tone, 66 nor abandons even the finner "who putteth his truft in him.""More finned againft than finning," faintly returned the youth, his head drooping upon his breaft, and his pallid lips ceafing to move. A I again fupported him: his fufferings wrung my heart, and the tears of fympathy for a moment obfcured my fight. * The scene of this story is laid in Seeing me affected, he seemed to fum Bagdad. VOL. IV. July 1794. mon all the power of fpeech to his aid, B while 66 while his glistening eyes declared his grateful pleasure. "HOLY SHAIKH, "beloved of God and his Prophet, generous old man! may the decline "of your life be happy." "It cannot "be fo," replied I, with an air manifefting my deep concern at his condition, "unless you enable me, by declaring the fource of your misfortunes, to apply a remedy to them." They are irremediable," returned the youth, heaving a figh from his heart, which, at the inftant, I had almoft imagined to have iffued from my own. My fon," faid I, in gentle accent, "it were not fit that grief fhould lead you to impiety or defpair." "But "it will lead me to my grave," interrupted the youth, with a folemn look and steady tone. 66 66 66 a few paces, and feeing me still standing where he had left me, he waved his hand, intimating by that motion (which he performed with an inexpreffible grace) a defire that I would not follow or obferve him. I obeyed, and proceeded to the holy mofque of Rufheed, ruminating as I went along on the diftrefs of the unhappy youth, in whofe behalf I offered up to Allah and his prophet my most fervent and fincere prayers. The next morning I recognized this child of wretchedness in the very fame fpot, notwithstanding both his attitude and appearance were confiderably changed. On his head he wore a clofe cap of the finest linen of Damafcus, the edge of which, terminating above his ears, was richly and curiously embroidered. His vest, made of the costliest stúff, hung loofely upon him; from his neck was fufpended a string of the choicest flowers of the season, which reached below his breast. His drawers were of the rarest and moft valuable filk of Cairo; and his fhoes were of cloth of gold. In his right hand he held an apple, blooming as the cheek of a Circaffian damfel, to which ever and anon he would fmell. His eyes fparkled, his fhone bright, he tripped along like a playful fawn, and he waved his head with fuch a feminine, yet majestic grace, as almot to incline me to imagine I had mistaken his fex. "Praifed be God," faid I to myself, " my prayers have not Countenance Difcovering from the manner in which he delivered these laft words, that the progrefs of his diftemper was not to be checked by the application of moral or religious reafoning, I determined to try what effect the language of nature and of fympathy would produce. "Alas," faid I, how it is to be lamented that "fo fenfible and fo valuable a heart "fhould be pierced by the malignant "fhaft of forrow! Surely, the calamity "must be of an uncommon complexion, "whofe cure is linked to the grave "Such is that under which I fink," replied the youth, with a figh deeper than the former. Here making a motion to rife, I affifted him in the attempt, and been ineffectual;" but, alas! I was requested his permiffion to attend him deceived. Making up to this fon of home. "You are not prepared to ac- calamity, I faluted him with an air excompany me," he returned with a preffive at once of curiofity and of joy; myfterious look. Prayer cannot," I I felicitated him on the happy change in replied, "be more efficacious or more his appearance; "the worm of forrow," acceptable to God, than a chearful faid I, "thall no longer prey on the difcharge of the offices of humanity; heart of my youthful friend." He "I was going to the mofque, but in dropped his arms; he hung down his "tead of proceeding thither, I will, if head; he prefently raifed it again; he 66 you forbid not, conduct you to your folded his arms over his breast, for a "habitation." moment he viewed me fteadfastly; he appeared confufed; he looked behind him, but in the fame inftant turned again towards me; again his head dropped on his bofom. I was affected to a degree I had never till now experienced. I 66 66 With the fame myfterious look, the amiable woe-confumed youth rejoined, "Our God forbid it." Then taking the other fide of the street, he purfued his way; but turning after he had gone 66 could I will go could fcarce find utterance for a fingle "charms of my beloved. word of condolence. "Alas," faid I, "feek the nightingale in the folitary with difficulty, 66 on the firit view of " grove, and I will be his companion in "you juft now, I indulged the pleafing mourning and affliction, for we both "belief that you were happier now than "fink under the oppreffion of the fame "when I laft faw you." He obferved" ruthlefs tyrant." me eagerly, with a mixture of joy and In this wild rambling manner did the furprife: I thought he did not recollect unhappy youth difclofe to me the fource me, and reminded him of our meeting of his deep diftrefs; my cheeks were the preceding day. He fimiled-bowed bedewed with tears; I felt myself strong-and plucking a daffodil from his gar- ly interested in his fate, and though I land, prefented it to me with an air of defpaired of being able to relieve him, affection blended with refpect. Me- yet I refolved to leave nothing unatthought I difcovered in this action the tempted to that end With this view figns of hopeless or difappointed love. I entreated him to tell me whether my I asked him whence he had got that interceffion with the gardener of whom beautiful flower, but with no other view he complained would be too late, were than to engage him in discourse. I immediately to folicit him in his be"I plucked it," faid he," in fpite half?" I poffefs," faid I," fome au"of the vigilance of the jealous gar-thority and confiderable influence in "dener. Ah! cruel gardener! you "this city; they fhall both be employed "have bound your flower garden with "in their greateft extent to obtain for hedge of thorny bushes, with the " you the object of your defire. Say "wounds of which I am covered. See "then, dear youth, who are you, and "-look at my heart--does it not bleed how is the unfeeling unjust wretch "in a thousand places ?--1 received all named, who, after encouraging, hàs thefe wounds in ftruggling amidst the "not fcrupled to reject the pure and "briars which furround the garden that lawful paffion with which you are in46 my foul delighted in: Like the night "fpired?" ingale, I am fond of the rofe; nor is With a defpondent look he replied, "that fweeteft flower of Iremb averfe" Heaven reward you, oh generous tender love. But the merciless " ftranger, for your benevolent intengardener denies me admittance. He "tions in my favour, and with Heaven, was once indulgent to my innocent "oh pardon any indecorum I may have "paffion; but a ftranger came, faw my "been guilty of towards you; I fear "favourite rofe, and being enamoured "I may have acted or fpoken with an "with it, has offered a high price for "extravagance bordering on infanity; "it in jewels and in gold. The mer- "for, alas! fo poignant is my forrow, cenary gardener is allured by the pefo heavy the load of mifery which cuniary bait: Oh! bafe-oh fordid " preffes upon my foul, that no ordinary gardener! had I the wealth of Kar-mode of lamentation is fuited to my "ron, it fhould be thine. But I 66 feelings no rational or coherent lan"would not buy of thee my darling "guage equal to their expreffion." "rofe: Ah! that were to infult the emprefs of my heart; the riches of "the world would weigh light as "feather placed in the fcale with the . แ to 66 my "To a perfon," I returned, "pof"fefling the leaft fenfibility, the apolo66 a gy you have offered must be unnecef"fary; it has diftreffed, not satisfied 66 me. A bleeding heart not uncom b A fabulous garden or bower, celebrated by the Oriental writers. C ture. Suppofed to be the korah of fcrip 66 "Alas, noble minded and' generous "fir," interrupted he," it were ufeless 66 to inform you who I am, or who the "author of my mifery is. I am a "wretch whofe fufferings will admit of no alleviation--whofe diforder is in "curable-whofe grief muft fpeedily "terminate his exiftence. No influence, no power can reftore to me "what I have irrecoverably loft. I " have loft, oh, ye monarchs of the earth! a jewel far richer than any "that adores your crowns; I would "not exchange even the defpair that "confumes me for the empire of Jum. "How light and contemptible is the pleafure derived from dominion, com"pated to the agonizing grief of a fa"voured, though fuccefslefs lover! My "mistress still approves of my paffion, "though force and tyranny have con"ftrained our inclination. Her heart " is mine, though her perfon is my 66 rival's, Ah! what have I faid? just "heaven can it be fo, and wilt not thou avenge my wrongs? My wrongs cry aloud for vengeance; I will arm this hand with death; I will array myfelf "in terror, and I will make the joy of 66 my enemies clofe with the life of the injured and miferable Mujnoon *. 66. Pronouncing thefe laft words with vehemence, he paffed on regardless of my entreaty that he would ftop. His eyes feemed inflamed with rage, and every feature was marked with the violent agitation of his foul. I fhould in vain have endeavoured to overtake him; he flew like one of the fleet courfers, of Arabia, and was in a moment invifible. I now remembered to have heard of the thwarted loves of Mujnoon and N OTE S. An ancient king of Perfia. e Mujnoon fignifies the diftracted: This, as well as the former fpeech of Mujnoon, are imitations of the Perfian ode. Zenaibf. Tamais, father of the damfel had long encouraged their mutual attachment: but a lord of the caliph's court, named Aghyar", being captivated with the charms of Zenaib, demanded her in marriage. The ambitious father, proud of the alliance with a noble of the fut degree, had not hesitated to yield his confent. He had not fcrupled to violate the facred engagement by which he had agreed to the union of the lovers. Vain were the tears and entreaties of the beauteous Zenaib. fruitlefs were the complaints, and as fruitless the threats of the wretched Mujnoon. Ineffectual attempts had been made by fome of the relations of the unhappy youth to obtain the interpofition of the caliph in his behalf; but every avenue to the royal favour had been industriously clofed by the friends of Aghyar, whofe influence was extenfive, and his intereft powerful. The hour was now arrived that had been fixed for the celebration of the inaufpicious nuptials of the ungenerous Aghyar, and the lovely but illfated Zenaib. Not a ray of hope remained to illume the gloomy defpairing foul of the unfortunate Mujnoon, Alas! how much to be pitied! how little to be relieved! The following morning I again encountered this child of woe in the fame fpot. He had in his right hand the fame apple I had feen the preceding day; it was then blooming and fragrant, but it was now faded and dry. From his neck was fufpended the fame garland of variegated flowers'; it was then fresh and delightful to the eye, but it was now withered and offenfive. He was attended by a young flave, in whose countenance was expreffed the deepest affiction; a tear flood in either of his eyes, while he earneftly befought his drooping mafter to return home. " I "am going thither, Mukbool," replied : His "and, ah! pray too for the lafting felicity of my adorable Zenaib." Haplefs, inconfolable Zenaib," added I, bathing the cheeks of her cold pale lover with the drops that trickled from my eyes. Mukbool procuring a bier, the corpfe was conveyed to the late habitation of his mafter. The friends of the deceafed affembling, his remains were conducted to, and deposited in, the vault of the family, with the ceremonies ordained by our holy law. He had fcarcely pronounced the last fyllable of his mistress's name, when his foul took its flight in a figh that iffued from the bottom of his heart. "Inex"Where, dear unhappy youth," I "orable Tamai," exclaimed the fufinterrupted, where lieth your home?" ceptible Mukbool, in a guft of paffion Raifing with difficulty his right hand, and affection, "cruel and ungenerous he pointed with the fore-finger of it to "Aghyar," cried I in the fame bitterthe firmament; with his hand he raifed nefs of grief and indignation. "Dear, his eyes; "that, faid he, in a faul-" amiable and much-wronged youth,' tering tone," is the home whither I am murmurs the tender Mukbool, his tears repairing thence did I come, thi- and fighs choaking his voice. "ther fhall I prefently return." head fell again upon his bofom; the tears, which till now had stood in the eyes of Mukbool, no longer kept their place, they bedewed his cheeks and were followed by a ceafelefs ftream. Never did I before experience fuch anguifh of foul; I knew not in what terms to addrefs the unfortunate youth. A moral or religious ftrain would have been abfurdity and impertinence; grief and The beauteous Zenaib, learning the pity were not to be adequately expreffed fate of her beloved Mujnoon, survived by language. I mingled my tears with him only two days. Her nuptials with thofe of the tender-hearted Mukbool, the base minded Aghyar had been celeand with him was filent in my forrow. brated, but her perfevering affliction had The knees of Mujnoon finking beneath barred all approach to her person. The him, the faithful Mukbool attempted to fordid Tamai fhortly followed his daughfupport his beloved mafter; but his after, the difappointment of his selfish and fistance was in vain; Mujnoon fell to ambitious views breaking his heart. the ground-he fell-never more to rife. With him fell the faded garland and withered apple-ftriking emblems of his hopelefs condition! Refting on our knees at each fide of him, Mukbool and I together fupported him in a fitting pofture. The honest flave thanked me for my aid by a look that needed no comment. The eyes of the hopeless Mujnoon were now become fixed; a cold dew had overfpread his ample forehead; his pulfe was imperceptible; the hand of death was vifibly upon him. Mukbool," faid the ill-fated youth, in a low and diftinct voice, 66 my fuf"ferings are at an end." Turning to me, he added, with a look of woe that made an impreffion on my mind never to be effaced," Reverend father, pray for "the foul of the unfortunate Mujnoon; The ftory of Zenaib and Mujnoon reaching the ears of the caliph, the cruelty and injuftice of Aghyar was punifhed by a fentence of perpetual difgrace, under which he found life infupportable. He died lamented by none. A CONTRAST. DOMPILIUS and PUSILLUS (for thus their acquaintance diftinguished them) were neighbours in the country, and generally companions in town. Their fituation in life, their family and fortune, were nearly fimilar, and they were about the fame age; but in their perfons, their turn of mind, their behaviour, and their general economy, they were |