gloomy way than on the preceding day.

He

was almost inclined to turn back, and would have done so, but for a remark which he made, that crowds of travellers were behind and before him, with their faces towards the Temple of Pleasure, and that, as yet, he had not witnessed one with his back towards it. Encouraged by this circumstance, the prince journeyed till the evening, when he espied two houses of entertainment, one on each side of the road. The females invariably filed off to that which lay on the left hand, and the men to that on the right. Over the door of the house on the left, there was a figure blowing through a brazen trumpet, and holding out a scroll on which were these words; "THE TEMPLE OF FAME." Over the door on the right, was the figure of a fat man holding his sides which shook with laughter, and round his neck was a label bearing this inscription; "THE TEMPLE OF MIRTH."

The prince heard the shrill sounds of female voices, all clacking at once in the Temple of Fame; and on following the men into that of Mirth, he heard it resound with peals of laugh

ter, singing, and jollity. The rooms were filled with company, seated at tables groaning under bowls, bottles, glasses, and other utensils of drinking. The floors were so covered with empty bottles, that it required great care to avoid falling over them. The prince took his seat, and entered heartily into the pleasures of the company, which were sharpened by wit and wine. The debauch continued till reason fled, and when the prince awoke in the morning, he found himself stretched out on the floor, where he had passed the night, and no less indiposed from his hard lodging than from his debauch. After having discharged his bill, he sallied out in a very disagreeable situation. The road grew worse and worse at every step; but shame now prevented him from turning back without having had a view of the Temple of Pleasure, which he had already taken so much pains

to see.

The next house he arrived at was inscribed"THE TEMPLE OF DELIGHT," into which he saw both sexes enter promiscuously.—It was furnished much in the style of The Temple of Love; but every thing was much more lasci

vious. It seemed as if all the preceding temples had been united into this one, as he witnessed both sexes revelling in music, dancing, singing, and feasting. His jaded spirits were soon raised by the revelry of the company, and his passions were inflamed by the wanton scenes which they did not withdraw to give way to. After feasting to refresh himself, the prince felt inclined to amorous dalliance, and he had not to Fook far for an object, who appeared suited and willing to gratify his desires. After having wound up their passions to the highest pitch by wine and dancing, the enraptured pair retired. Nature was soon exhausted and they

fell into a sound sleep.

In the morning, the prince awoke before his companion, and wishing for a view of his charmer's face, he undrew the curtain, and was so struck with horror and disgust, that he quitted the couch. He perceived a surly, vulgar countenance, which was at intervals, thrown into a distortion which discovered that, even whilst sleeping, she laboured under a cruel agony of mind. It was the sleep of disquietude such as never fails to attend upon guilty

consciences. Her dress lay scattered about on different parts of the floor, and what appeared magnificent by candlelight, was now discovered to be wretchedly tawdry and dirty.

The prince was so shocked, that he dressed himself and quitted the room without waking her. After having discharged another enormous reckoning, including the expenses of his partner, he found that his purse grew light; but his uneasiness on that score was soon counterbalanced: by his satisfaction at leaving such a house.

The prince now travelled over an exceedingly heavy bad road, bewailing his credulity, and the near approach of poverty. At the end of the day, he arrived at THE TEMPLE OF FOR TUNE. "This is a most lucky circumstance!" cried the prince; "I will throw myself in Fortune's way and endeavour to retrieve what I have squandered away." He entered, and beheld the rooms filled with company, sitting round tables covered with heaps of gold. The players never quitted their seats; but when they wanted any refreshment, it was brought to them by those in attendance. The prince was dazzled by the sight of so much gold, and in his

eagerness to finger some of it, he soon emptied his purse. He then parted with the jewels in his turban, his belt, sword, and dagger. At morning's dawn, he was stripped of every valu-able!

He slunk out of the house, in the utmost uncertainty what course to pursue; but, as he had but one day's journey more to arrive at the end of his destination, he kept his face towards it, and, at length, his longing eyes were feasted with a distant view of The Temple of Pleasure. The magnificence of the building. more than answered the expectation which he had conceived of it from that of its entrance :: but he was surprised to see that it stood in the midst of a barren, waste, gloomy, desert. The Temple itself resounded with the most heart-cheering strains, which were audible at a great distance.

The prince's joy at having attained the end of all his labours, at first drowned all thoughts of his pennyless situation, and debilitated frame ;-t he was about to rush into the Temple, when recollecting his circumstances, he hesitated, and turned on one side a little, as well to consider