God pardons. They wait upon him in all places, except when he does his needs, where they let him go alone, staying for him at the door till he come out, and then they take him into possession again; wherefore, when the Turks go to the house-of-office, they put the left foot foremost, to the end the angel who registers their sins, may leave them first; and when they come out, they set the right foot before, that the angel who writes down their good works, may have them first under his protection.

Thevenot.

The Tenth Book.

And the Angel that was sent unto me said, Thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the Most High!.. Then said I, Yea, my Lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee; whereof, if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh. And I said, tell on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.

ESDRAS. ii. 4.

THALABA THE DESTROYER.

THE TENTH BOOK.

ERE there was time for wonder or for fear,
The way was past, and once again they stood
Within the cavern of the blue-eyed witch.
Then came the weakness of her natural age
At once on Maimuna;

The burthen of her years

Fell on her, and she knew

That her repentance in the sight of God

Had now found favour, and her hour was come. Her death was like the righteous; "Turn my face "To Mecca!" in her languid eyes

The joy of certain hope Lit a last lustre, and in death

The smile was on her cheek.

No faithful crowded round her bier,
No tongue reported her good deeds,
For her no mourners wail'd and wept,
No Iman o'er her perfum'd corpse,
For her soul's health inton'd the prayer;
No column rais'd by the way-side
Implor'd the passing traveller

To say a requiem for the dead.
Thalaba laid her in the snow,

And took his weapons from the hearth,
And then once more the youth began,
His weary way of solitude.

The breath of the East is in his face,
And it drives the sleet and the snow.
The air is keen, the wind is keen,
His limbs are aching with the cold,
His eyes are aching with the snow,

His very heart is cold,

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