THE two friends having made the promise which he required of inviolable fecrefy, Giaffar thus entered upon his wonderful ftory. "I am thirty-fix years old, and my career is completed. I have paffed through it with honour, perhaps with glory; both love and fortune ftrewed it with flowers, till the fatal inftant which difcovered the abyfs in which I was nearly overwhelmed. I have loft every thing, even to my very name; the inhabitants of the Eaft mention it ftill with benedictions; the affection of a grateful people perpetuates the remembrance of it, and yet it must not be borne by me! Condemned to obfcurity, I am become a ftranger to my own fame, am unable to enjoy it, and dead to all the world; it is in the eternal filence of the tomb that I receive the approbation and the eulogies of my contemporaries! The unfortunate victim of defpotifm, and the fatal example of human vi ciffitudes, I am Barmecide." At the found of this great and celebrated name, the Knights of the Swan rofe up. A fentiment of profound veneration and refpect rendered them motionless for fome minutes: to great minds profcription and misfortune tend to increate the intereft which genius and virtue never fail to infpire! The two friends confidered Barmecide with an eagerness of curiofity as if they behield him now for the first time. The emotion and fympathy which they felt was painted on their countenances in fo expreffive a character, that Barmecide was very ftrongly affected by it. "O! my friends," cried he, “ you reftore me to my exiftence." In faying these words, he threw himfelf into their arms; and having received their affectionate embraces, thus refumed his narration. "My father, born in the dominions of Gerold, had a paffion for travelling. He inspired my mother with the fame inclination, who was always his infeparable companion. I drew my firft breath in Perfia; my father was my only inftructor, and he taught me by facts and obfervations founded on experience, and not by leffons derived from books. I had the misfortune to lofe this excellent parent when I was twenty years of age; my mother had been dead fome time be• fore. I had three brothers. We had always lived together in the most perfect union, and were determined not to separate. having often heard of the extreme magnificence of the Court of Aaron Rafchid, we determined to vifit Bagdat. Arrived at this fuperb capital, we became acquainted with feveral Europeans of our own age, and we I i2 lodged traband, was in reality the home- confefs, I c exc hftanding the sition, had be My family used to be remarkligious concerts, able for regularity in their attenadacity than ever. dance on public worthip; but that aed his orders in too here is numbered amongst ca and one morning, the amusements of the place. Lady splaying on my organ Huntingdon has a chapel, which Aual hour, I heard a vio fometimes attracts us; and whe ocking at my door. I fhut nothing promises us any particu' ay organ, and rose to enquire to the caufe; when at the fame entertainment, a tea-drinkin inftant a number of armed men, the rooms, or a concert of of came into my room, and teftified is called facred mufic, is f aho- the greatest aftonishment at finding to draw us from a chur armed; me alone. The captain of the comno one will remark the pany asked me, where were my fence or our prefen published accomplices. I replied, that I had daily become more prohibiting none. duct, for want der pain of death, anfwer, and fought in vain in all He paid no attention to this ftraint impofe celebrate their my closets for the other musicians. confcioufnefs They were allowed, He paffed feveral times in the front to as an exprivilege of perform of my organ, without imagining In this dividually. it to be a mufical inftrument; -fon paf I am thi I was to trom He re prohibition offended me which was in fome measure owing deal of that I confidered what to my having given it the appearcould be devifed to elude ance of a cheft of drawers. At had always a genius for length, not being able to compre mechanics; and, after fome re- hend how my companions had tion, I conceived the idea of efcaped, he ordered me to follow conftructing an inftrument which might imitate all thofe with which acquainted, and even the human voice. I endeavoured to fupply it at the fame time with fo prodigious a volume of found, that it might produce to the ear the effect of a concert. I worked at my invention night and day, and in less than fix months produced an inftrument of an enormous fize, to which I gave the name of Organ, and which perfectly anfwered my intentions. I then placed myfelf near my window, and played on it every morning and night, chanting the fervice at the fame time. At the end of fome days, information was fent to the Caliph, that him. I defired to be conducted into the prefence of the Caliph. He replied, that he was conveying me thither. In fact, the prince had refolved to fee me, and to interrogate me himself. ceived me with a gloomy and severe air, confidering me fometime in filence; and ftruck with the fe renity of my countenance, difcreet young man," faid be, "what could infpire thee with fo much audacity, and fo much contempt for life?" "Sir," said I in reply, "nothing fo effectually encourages innocence as the aspect of an equitable judge."-"Thou canst not," answered he, "deny thy dif obedience. I myself have been "In under ANEOUS ESSAYS. [493 rciffitudes, I am Barmecide" At be found of this great and criedome, the right of the up. A ler bort of ration and repet LLANEOUS ESSAYS. [485 I myself his fifter, gave her an account of inftru- our converfation, and returned one along with her. The princefs, co y vered with a long veil, which conpa- cealed entirely her fhape and her none." face, placed herself on one of the Caliph; cushions by the fide of her brother interefts and at a little diftance froin, and in front -y youth excites of the organ. Then I afked perwilling to pardon miflion of the Caliph to feat my felf expect a fincere con- oppofite my chest of drawers; and, No, my lord," anfwered at the fame inftant, I began to play, you will not pardon a man and to fing. The Caliph immeo fhall be mean enough to diately heard thofe powerful and inform against his companions and harmonious founds imitating fo friends." "Well!" exclaimed completely flutes, horns, hautboys, the Caliph with violence, "all the and the human voice; when startChriftians at prefent in Bagdat fhall ing from his feat with wonder be this day put in irons." "They and delight, "Is it poffible," faid will be in that fituation only a few he, that thefe drawers are an hours," faid I in a tranquil tone; inftrument of mufic" Yes, my "and who fhall fet them free?" lord," replied I, "and I invented "I, my lord." At this anfwer it to foften the feverity of your the Caliph became mute with prohibition." In prohibiting aftonishment, and doubted whether thefe affemblies," faid the Caliph, he fhould pronounce my fentence, "I wifhed principally to prevent 'or difmifs me as a perfon infane. the celebrity and folemnity which I began therefore again thus to ad- the union of different inftruments drefs him. Sir, I can venture and feveral voices give to your ceto protest to you, that I have not remonies, I did not forefee that difobeyed your orders, and that I there could be fuch an ingenious was alone, of which it will be very contrivance to abrogate my edi&; eafy to convince you, if you will but it is but juft," added he, "that deign to fend for the cheft of draw- thofe who are compelled to obeers, which is in my chamber. I will dience fhould be more inventive open in your prefence this myfteri- than their governors." Saying ous article of furniture, and you will thefe words, he turned towards find in it a complete evidence of Abaffa, to atk her what the thought my innocence." The Caliph, whofe of this adventure: Immediately aftonishment was augmented by the moft foothing and delightful this difcourfe, iffued immediately voice which had ever yet attracted the order for which I folicited, my ear, requefted him in exand my organ was conveyed into preflions the moft flattering for his apartment. While I employed me, to recompenfe the author of fo myfelf in putting it into order, the wonderful an invention." "Young Caliph, who waited with as much man," faid the Caliph, who then curiofity as impatience for the ca- approached me, "I admire the taftrophe of this fingular fcene, arts and every fpecies of talents; went out for the princefs Abatfa thy perfon alfo pleases me. I de 1i3 lodged all together under the fame roof. tr My brothers played on several mufical inftruments, fome of our new acquaintance had the fame talents, and as we could not enjoy at Bagdat the free exercife of our religion, we agreed, that on the folemn feftivals we should meet in a room, and chant the mafs. Our apartment was towards the fireet, and the people, stopping to liften to us, foon difcovered the motive of these religious exercises. Mahometan intolerance was alarmed; and obtained an edict from the Caliph, which was published throughout the city, prohibiting the Chriftians, under pain of death, from affembling to celebrate their religious rites. They were allowed, however, the privilege of perform ing them individually. "This prohibition offended me fo highly, that I confidered what means could be devifed to elude it. I had always a genius for machanics; and, after fome reflection, I conceived the idea of conftructing an inftrument which might imitate all thofe with which I was acquainted, and even the human voice. I endeavoured to fupply it at the fame time with fo prodigious a volume of found, that it might produce to the ear the effect of a concert. I worked at my invention night and day, and in less than fix months produced an inftrument of an enormous fize, to which I gave the name of Organ, and which perfectly anfwered my intentions. I then placed myfelf near my window, and played on it every morning and night, chanting the fervice at the fame time. At the end of fome days, information was fent to the Caliph, that the Chriftians, notwithstanding the rigour of his prohibition, had begun again their religious concerts, and with more audacity than ever. The Caliph iffued his orders in confequence; and one morning, while I was playing on my organ at the ufual hour, I heard a violent knocking at my door. I shut up my organ, and rofe to enquire into the caufe; when at the fame inftant a number of armed men, came into my room, and teftified the greatest astonishment at finding me alone. The captain of the company afked me, where were my accomplices. I replied, that I had none. He paid no attention to this anfwer, and fought in vain in all my closets for the other muficians. He paffed feveral times in the front of my organ, without imagining it to be a mufical inftrument; which was in fome measure owing to my having given it the appearance of a cheft of drawers. At length, not being able to compre. hend how my companions had efcaped, he ordered me to follow him. I defired to be conducted into the prefence of the Caliph. He replied, that he was conveying me thither. In fact, the prince had refolved to fee me, and to interrogate me himself. He received me with a gloomy and fevere air, confidering me fometime in filence; and ftruck with the ferenity of my countenance, "Indifcreet young man," faid he, "what could infpire thee with so much audacity, and fo much contempt for life?" "Sir," faid I in reply, "nothing fo effectually encourages innocence as the afpect of an equitable judge."—"Thou canst not," answered he, "deny thy dif obedience. I myself have been under under thy window; I myself his fifter, gave her an account of have heard the found of inftruments and voices; and yet none but thyself has been found in thy chamber. Where are thy companions?" "I have," faid I, "none." "Liften," replied the Caliph; "thy phyfiognomy interefts and pleafes me, and thy youth excites my pity. I am willing to pardon thee, but I expect a fincere confeffion." No, my lord," answered I, " you will not pardon a man who fhall be mean enough to inform against his companions and friends.' "Well!" exclaimed the Caliph with violence, "all the Christians at prefent in Bagdat fhall be this day put in irons." "They will be in that fituation only a few hours," faid I in a tranquil tone; "and who fhall fet them free?" "I, my lord." At this anfwer the Caliph became mute with aftonishment, and doubted whether he fhould pronounce my fentence, or difmifs me as a perfon infane. I began therefore again thus to addrefs him. "Sir, I can venture to protest to you, that I have not difobeyed your orders, and that I was alone, of which it will be very eafy to convince you, if you will deign to fend for the cheft of drawers, which is in my chamber. I will open in your prefence this myfterious article of furniture, and you will find in it a complete evidence of my innocence." The Caliph, whofe aftonishment was augmented by this difcourfe, iffued immediately the order for which I folicited, and my organ was conveyed into his apartment. While I employed myfelf in putting it into order, the Caliph, who waited with as much curiofity as impatience for the cataftrophe of this fingular fcene, went out for the princefs Abalfa our converfation, and returned along with her. The princefs, covered with a long veil, which concealed entirely her fhape and her face, placed herfelf on one of the cushions by the fide of her brother at a little diftance from, and in front of the organ. Then I afked permiffion of the Caliph to feat myself oppofite my cheft of drawers; and, at the fame inftant, I began to play, and to fing. The Caliph immediately heard thofe powerful and harmonious founds imitating fo completely flutes, horns, hautboys, and the human voice; when starting from his feat with wonder and delight, "Is it poffible," faid he, " that thefe drawers are an inftrument of mufic" Yes, my lord," replied I," and I invented it to foften the feverity of your prohibition." "In prohibiting thefe affemblies," faid the Caliph, "I wifhed principally to prevent the celebrity and folemnity which the union of different inftruments and feveral voices give to your ceremonies, I did not foresee that there could be fuch an ingenious contrivance to abrogate my edict; but it is but juft," added he, "that thofe who are compelled to obedience fhould be more inventive than their governors." Saying thefe words, he turned towards Abaffa, to afk her what the thought of this adventure: Immediately the moft foothing and delightful voice which had ever yet attracted my ear, requested him in expreffions the moft flattering for me, to recompenfe the author of fo wonderful an invention." "Young man," faid the Caliph, who then approached me, "I admire the arts and every fpecies of talents) thy perfon alfo pleases me. I deIi 3 fira |