Experience hath long fince convinced me that labour and forrow are the portion of the fons of men, while they continue inhabi tants of this earthly manfion. And when the heats of youth are over, and calm reflection affumes her feat, thou wilt be fully convinc. ed of this great youth, and repent the mo ments thou hast squandered in the fervice of vice."

Thefe words pierced like an arrow the heart of the exiled monarch, and drew a fresh flood of tears from his eyes. He again proftrated himself before the God of nature, and with a voice interrupted with fighs, thus answered the hoary herinit.

O thou whom age and experience have taught wifdom, liften O thou, to my tale, aud thou wilt foon be convinced, that I have abundant reafon for my lorrow, and that my tears are not shed in vain. I am the fon of the great Kalahad, and was lately feated on the throne of Indoftan. My fubjects will

ingly paid me obedience, and my praise echoed in every corner of the empire. But I forfook the counfel of the wife and pru'dent and liftened to the advice of the young and foolish; indulged myfelf in every kind of luxury and paid no regard to the petitions of my people. Juftice was no longer administered, nor the cries of the injured regarded. To put a, ftop to these exceffes the populace affembled in a tumultuous manner before the palace, but instead of redressing their juft complaints, I took the fatal refolution of putting their leaders to death; even the wife Chimas, who loved me with the affection of a father, fell a victim to my rage. But alas! this horrid tragedy produced very different effects; the people, mad with fury at the lofs of their leaders, affaulted the palace, but before they could force a passage I escaped thro' the garden, and have ever Since wandered in these pathlefs waftes, lamenting my weakness, and imploring for. Les giveness

giveness from the god of nature.

But how

can forrow atone for my wretched conduct, or a torrent of tears wash out the stain of murder!"

The hermit stood for fome time astonished, but at last, recovering himself, he cried out, "How unfearchable are the ways of providence! and how various are the methods ufed by the Almighty to teach wisdom to the fons of men! Thou, O monarch of Indostan, haft known from experience the poignant pangs of a guilty confcience; and adversity has taught thee this facred truth, that virtue only is productive of happiness. But return, O fon of Kalahad! to the capital of thy empire; thy fubjects will receive thee with open arms, and the fon of Chimas, who now adminifters justice, will replace thee on the throne of thy ancestors. And may the fufferings thou haft endured in these barren waftes never be forgotten; may they prove a conftant monitor to remind thee of the follies

D 8

follies of thy youth, and the kindness of heaven in pardoning thy frailties. And remember, my fon, that thofe, who follow the ways of vice, will at laft plunge them. felves into the gulph of deftruction: while the paths of virtue are paths of pleasantness, and lead to the regions of eternal repose."

The Prince followed the hermit's advice, repaired to his capital, was kindly received by the fon of Chimas, and governed his people happily for many years.

"Tis a charming story Madam, faid Miss Seagoe, but nothing pleases me more, than that the nafty Cat met her defert-How I trembled for the poor Rat."

"The ftory is fo extremely moral throughout," said Mifs Selwyn, that it is fufficiently explanatory, without troubling our good Governefs with questions,"

FOURTH EVENING.

BENEVOLENCE

OF AN

EMPEROR OF CHINA,

HAMTI, the best and the wisest Emperor that ever filled the throne, after having gained three fignal victories over the Tartars, who had invaded his dominions, returned to Nankin in order to enjoy the glory of his conqueft. After he had refted for some days, the people, who are naturally fond of proceffions, im, patiently expected the triumphal entry, which Emperors upon fuch occafions D 9

were